Intersectionality
Understanding the Overlapping Layers of Identity and Oppression
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What is Intersectionality?
Intersectionality, coined by Kimberlé Crenshaw, describes how different aspects of a person’s identity (race, gender, sexuality, disability, class, etc.) intersect to shape their experiences of privilege and oppression.
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“If we aren’t intersectional, some of us, the most vulnerable, are going to fall through the cracks.”
– Kimberlé Crenshaw
What is Intersectionality?
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At its core, intersectionality recognises that people experience oppression and privilege in different ways based on their race, gender, class, disability, sexuality, nationality, and other identity factors.
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It rejects the idea that oppression can be understood through a single-axis approach (e.g., just race or just gender).
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It shows how systems of oppression (racism, sexism, homophobia, ableism, etc.) are interconnected.
Example 1: Gender & Race in the Workplace
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A white woman may face gender discrimination but still benefit from white privilege.
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A black woman faces both gender and racial discrimination, which creates unique challenges different from those faced by white women or black men.
Example 2: Disability & Economic Status
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A wealthy disabled person may have access to medical care and support systems that a low-income disabled person does not.
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This highlights how class intersects with disability to shape a person’s life experience.