Anthias (2013) asserted that intersectionality is a concept applied in various critical theories to analyze and describe ways through which discriminative and oppressive institutions are interconnected and hence difficult to study them distinctly. Some of the oppressive institutions covered in the concept of Intersectionality include sexism, racism, transphobia, ableism, classism, and xenophobia. Matsudaj (1991) pointed out that the word attempts to explain ways in which the forms of discrimination overlap, combine, and interact especially with people who belong to the marginalized group. The word was first used by a legal scholar known as Kimberle Crenshaw in 1989 when she asserted that the feminist theory, antidiscrimination law, and antiracist politics have all failed to address the predicament of black women due to how they tend to focus on just a single factor (Dhamoon, 2011). Intersectionality gives a perspective in which the experience is greater than any sum of two forms of discrimination hence sufficiently addressing a form of oppression. With its holistic approach, there have been mixed concerns of whether Intersectionality is helpful or harmful in addressing inequality.
Intersectionality Theory
Intersectionality forms one of the many sociological theories that attempt to describe the many threats of oppression and discrimination when a person’s identities overlap with various minority classes including race, age, gender, health, and ethnicity among others (Cho et al. 2013). A woman of color, for example, may be subjected to sexism in their place of work, which may have eventually emanated from the precepts racism. In equal measures, trans-women of color are also subjected to immense discrimination and threats of violence (Rahila, 2013). When such problems are looked through the lenses of Intersectionality, it is easy to see how one form of inequality is as a result of compounded forms of discriminations. Using the example of transgender women, it is true to assert that their oppression and threat to violence is as a result of prejudice, sexism, racism, misogyny, and ignorance subjected towards their identity. The theory of Intersectionality was first used in reference to the inequalities facing women, but it has since grown to cover a person of any gender who might be affected by any form of discrimination. An example is when a Hispanic faces xenophobia despite them being legal citizens. On the other hand, a Hispanic man who is in their 50s might also suffer from ageism which might compound to the discriminative hurdles they face while trying to secure jobs. The theory of Intersectionality highlights the hierarchical nature of power and the fact that people belonging to more than one discriminated classes might allude to the fact that their problems are ignored.
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Importance of Intersectionality in Addressing Inequalities
The premise of Intersectionality dictates that people live multiple lives that are layered with various identities that are derived from social relations, power structures, and history. People belong to more than a single community and can, therefore, face privileges and oppression simultaneously. Taylor et al. (2010) asserted that the first way in which intersectionality attempts to address inequality is through its analysis that aims at revealing multiple identities, therefore exposing the various types of discrimination and inequalities that occur as a result of the combination of identities. It also targets to address ways in which class oppression, patriarchy, and racism among others create inequalities that attempt to restructure the position of women. It is a holistic concept that takes account of social, political, and historical context and the unique personal experiences that are a consequence of combining different types of identities.
The aim of the intersectionality concept is not to depict how a given group of people is privileged or victimized than the other, but instead, it reveals meaningful similarities and distinctions that can overcome discriminations and put necessary conditions where people can enjoy their rights fully. The presence of multiple identities among people causes them to be pushed to extreme margins which result in discriminations and undue privileges to other group of people. Therefore, the intersectional analysis is vital in helping people converge different forms of discrimination. It also assists people to assess and understand the impact the convergent identities have the access and opportunity to rights. The concept also ensures that programs, policies, laws, and services that influence one aspect of people lives are adjusted in such a way that it be inextricably linked to others. An example is when a female domestic worker is subjected to assault and abuse by her employer. The intersection of the workers' identities that include poverty, the female gender, and foreign citizenship might be essential in understanding the factors that put her to vulnerability. Therefore intersecting the policies, laws, and programs will enable people to understand her vulnerability. In this case, the applicable laws and policies might include those that address issues relating to domestic work, violence, and abuse.
Intersectionality as a theory allows individuals to understand human rights, privilege, and oppression on a global scale. It also assists people to create arguments that promote substantive equality from history and community studies. It is a crucial tool in building a human rights culture from the local levels to the international scale. The analysis involved during the intersectional studies is focused on distinct experiences, qualitative aspects of equality, specific contexts, and discrimination and justice as asserted by Fogg (2014).The analysis takes a holistic approach that aims at highlighting the rights of every minority group including the disabled, indigenous people, people of color, lesbian and gays among others. Also, intersectionality plays an important role in mitigating historically based conceptual problems and gaps. Over the past, organizations such as the UN and other Non-governmental organizations have addressed discriminative problems in isolation with minimal success. These organizations have taken a single category description which in the real sense does not reflect the reality on the ground which is that people have multiple identities and therefore have the prospect of facing intersectional discrimination. Intersectionality is also a useful tool for linking various forms of discriminations such as gender and race to the political, legal, social, and economic environment that leads to discrimination, oppression, and undue privileges (Levy, 2005).
How Intersectionality Is Achieved
In properly applying intersectionality, it requires people to think differently about equality, power, and identity. It demands that people focus on the points of complexity, intersection, structures, and dynamic process that define individual’s access to opportunity and rights rather than focusing on isolated issues. Goldberg (2014) asserted that the main focus of intersectionality is to eradicate discrimination through the enhancement of diversity as a fundamental pillar in enjoying human rights. Secondly, intersectionality requires a comprehensive analysis or approach which will be essential in understanding the inequalities in the society. Gathering of information should be based on question men and women on how they live their lives (Heartfield, 2013). Inquiries must be made to get answers on how the marginalized communities experience their lives. Testimonies and personal accounts are required of people in different groups such as ethnicity, sex, race, citizenship, caste, and age among other kinds of identities. The personal analysis initiatives should reveal how policies and practices shape the lives of those affected as compared to the lives of those who are not impacted. For example in analyzing an inequality that is brought about by poverty, the intersectionality analysis will go ahead to analyze the group of women experiencing poverty, what contributes to their poverty, how political and historical factors play a part and the applicable policies and programs influencing the poverty levels (Vivar, 2016).
Achievements of intersectionality
The main reason why the term intersectionality was coined was to address the inequalities that were experienced by the black women as asserted by Acker (2012).The word was formulated at the helm of the overlap of gender and racial discrimination that faced the black women in their job settings. The concept of intersectionality gained its roots as it was determined to combine the influence of anti-racist activism, anti-discrimination, and feminism. Intersectionality is a way of thinking that respects identity and its relationship to the tenets of power. Young, (1994) asserted that the original aim of the concept was to address the problems of the black women, but it has since grown to incorporate other vulnerable members of the community such as the people with disability and other discriminations in the line of class, sexism, racism, and transphobia among others. Intersectionality has provided a platform where advocates can frame their circumstances and advocate for their inclusion and visibility.
Challenges of Intersectionality
For several years, intersectionality has been used as a tool to advocate for inclusivity in the society and advocate for equality (Davis, 2008).The definition of the term is focused on respecting the multiple identities of people in the marginalized groups. However, the people who use the concept have in the past not met the demands and standards of the definition hence resulting in controversy and debate. Conservatives have been critical about people practicing intersectionality and hence accused them of being obsessed with politics of identity. They further argue that intersectionality is not just a matter of identities but a matter of institutions that utilize identity as a tool to exclude privilege (Fine, 2010). Another point of criticism is that the intersectionality concept is too theoretical and only involves much talk without any substantive action. The critics have maintained that there are still many forms of discrimination going on amidst the call for the application of intersectionality, therefore, highlighting the failure of the theory. The concept is also accused of focusing more on the problem and neglecting the forces that resist the change as claimed by Thai (2012).
According to Pinker (2004), critics have also postulated that intersectional approach creates a bullying atmosphere where it is difficult to acknowledge privilege especially for those experiencing exclusion and discrimination. Intersectionality cannot bring change on its own. Use of more words will not change the inequality situation in the ground but it requires a more practical approach that is geared towards addressing disparities that affect people in the society. Another critical challenge facing intersectionality is the fact that it further leads to divisions and segregation. Dupre (2001) asserted that the principle of intersectionality advocates for classifying people based on their identities. The identities can either be social class, race, age, ethnicity, and disability status among other. Once individuals are looked through these lenses, the result is that they are involuntarily excluded from the society as a whole which therefore brings divisions among people. Cole (2009) asserted that it also leads to stereotypes, implicating certain class of people as beneficiaries of undue privileges at the expense of the minority groups hence resulting in conflicts.
Verdict
There is still a debate of whether intersectionality is doing enough to stop inequality or it is one of the major factors that promote discrimination and oppression. Le Blanc (2012) asserted that proponents have made it clear that intersectionality is about identifying various identities of an individual and after that taking a holistic approach to solving different forms of inequalities. The opponents claim that among many other things that intersectionality is just too much talk with little action and is only meant to create an environment that is bullying and balkanizing. However, it is critical to note that through the concept of intersectionality, major steps in reclaiming human rights and equality has been achieved. Anthias, Floya and Nira Yuval-Davis (1983) pointed out that feminist rights especially that of the women of color have been achieved as institutions and organizations have adopted a holistic approach to solving the problems. Through intersectionality, major steps in identifying discriminative and oppressive problems have been achieved. However, certain inequalities in the society remain even with the campaign that advocates for intersectionality (Nicholson, 2010). It remains an area where proper implementation has not been done hence resulting in gaps.
Grabham et al . (2008) asserted that intersectionality is a new approach to combating the incidences of inequality in the society. It aims at analyzing the institutions of discrimination such as race, gender, age, and ethnicity as one, where one cannot be analyzed without looking at the effect of the other. The concept has made major strides in attempting to restore equality especially to the females who have historically been victims of multiple forms of discrimination. However, it is still debatable whether it has gone beyond its initial purpose to address other inequalities affecting other groups in the society. Critics say that it is a divisive policy that is aimed at creating distinct groups in the society. Whereas others have acknowledged that it is a good concept, its implementation with the relevant authorities has been a major setback (Walby, Armstrong, & Strid, 2012).The future hope is that more efforts will be put on the area of intersectionality to address modern forms of discrimination and oppression such as homophobia.
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