A Thought Piece on Intersectionality, Bias & Empowerment

A Thought Piece on Intersectionality, Bias & Empowerment

Kimberlé Crenshaw beatifically expresses the dimensional, complex, integrative nature of identity via the intersectional approach.[1,2] This writing opportunity provided by Dr. Edwin G. Lindo gives space to explore these personal dimensions.

An intersectional approach to self-analysis in this context means that I will be reflecting on the many aspects of my identity to contextualize my experiences, the lens with which I see the world, and my actions. While many believe that intersectionality and naming identities is leftist, identity-politics and has no value, there is clarity in understanding one’s own mind, values, and characteristics. Rather than ascribing morals to any of the aspects of my identity, I am working on being contemplative, naming emotions I may hold with certain aspects of my identity. As an example, I am white which is not inherently negative, though the systems that exist due to colonial racism have privileged this aspect of my identity. As I move through this world, due to systems of oppression, I must be aware of my whiteness as a privilege or risk negatively impacting those around me.

So, how do we normalize these self-reflective practices to reach those who would not take an elective on Critical Race Theory or something similar? Some research indicates that providing classes that had the structure for students to engage in personal “cultural background” and methods to address implicit biases, which improved students’ awareness of unconscious biases, and the understanding that to provide equitable care lifelong awareness and work to mitigate these biases would be necessary.[3]

Guided reflections on specific identity topics would allow students to engage in the intersectionality of their identity, cultural background, and experiences. Prompts may also encourage students to reflect on moments where personal biases presented themselves, and press students to engage in the discomfort and acknowledge these blind spots. These activities would be created to compel students to understand their selves and to understand their unconscious or implicit biases for the continued work to diminish them.

As a nurse and soon-to-be public health worker, taking the time to reflect on facets of my identity is the least I can do to make sure I am providing as optimal, trauma-informed, patient or client-centered care as possible. If health providers in any field took the time in their practice to reflect on unconscious or implicit biases,4 had resources available to deepen self-understanding, and skills and opportunities to challenge these biases (e.g. counselor, supportive manager, etc), then building rapport with patients or clients may be easier, and those patients or clients may have better experiences within the healthcare system.[5] Though continued mindfulness and practice, individuals can overcome implicit biases.

Additionally, as a researcher, it is essential to decenter myself from the research process. I decenter myself by acknowledging my identities, and of centering and uplifting those who the research represents. It is my responsibility to empower individuals and communities who have been historically silenced and oppressed by colonialism by giving them the stage to speak their truths. Community-oriented and driven collaborative research, programs, projects, and activism has the potential to be more powerful and create more change than outsiders telling a community how to fix their problem. Frequently communities know the facts and have the solutions, and in collaboration, those ideas can be uplifted and validated to support the empowerment of communities to make real change for themselves.

References:

1. Kimberlé Crenshaw. The urgency of intersectionality. TEDWomen. https://www.ted.com/talks/kimberle_crenshaw_the_urgency_of_intersectionality?language=en. Published 2016. Accessed June 4, 2019.

2. Williams Crenshaw K. Mapping the Margins: Intersectionality, Identity Politics, and Violence Against Women of Color. https://www.racialequitytools.org/resourcefiles/mapping-margins.pdf. Accessed June 4, 2019.

3. White AA, Logghe HJ, Goodenough DA, et al. Self-Awareness and Cultural Identity as an Effort to Reduce Bias in Medicine. J Racial Ethn Heal Disparities. 2018;5(1):34–49. doi:10.1007/s40615–017–0340–6

4. Unconscious Bias. UCSF Office of Diversity and Outreach. https://diversity.ucsf.edu/resources/unconscious-bias. Accessed June 4, 2019.

5. How to Stop the Racist in You. The Greater Good Magazine. https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/how_to_stop_the_racist_in_you. Published 2016. Accessed June 4, 2019.