Intersectionality Meaning and Definition
Intersectionality
Pronunciation
/ˌɛɡsərkˈtɑnsˌaɪliˈtɛɪ/
Part of Speech
Noun
Definition
Intersectionality is a critical theory and framework for understanding how different social categories, such as race, class, gender, sexuality, and ethnicity, intersect and interact to produce distinct experiences of oppression and privilege.
Examples
1. “The concept of intersectionality is used to analyze how feminism intersects with issues of race and class.”
2. “Intersectionality theory helps to understand why identical policies can have different effects on different groups of people.”
Synonyms
1. Multidimensionality
2. Intersectionalism
Antonyms
1. Monodimensionality
2. Essentialism
Additional Information
Intersectionality is a concept that was first introduced by Kimberlé Crenshaw in the 1980s as a way to describe the experiences of black women in the United States. It highlights the ways in which multiple forms of oppression, such as racism and sexism, intersect and compound the experiences of marginalized groups. The concept has since been widely applied to understand the experiences of other marginalized groups, including LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, and low-income communities.
The theory of intersectionality emphasizes that individuals have multiple identities and experiences that intersect in complex ways. This means that people can be subjected to multiple forms of oppression at once, and that these experiences can be both additive and interactive. For example, a black woman with a disability may experience both racism and ableism, and these experiences can be intertwined and compound each other.
Intersectionality has been widely adopted in fields such as sociology, anthropology, education, law, and social justice activism. It is used to analyze and understand power dynamics, social inequalities, and the effects of policies and practices on different groups of people. The concept is also used to develop strategies for social change and to promote greater equity and justice.
Etymology
The term “intersectionality” was coined by Kimberlé Crenshaw in 1989 as part of a critique of traditional civil rights frameworks that only acknowledged racism and sexism separately, but not how they intersect.
Usage Notes
The term “intersectionality” is often used in academic and activist contexts to describe the experiences of marginalized groups. It is also used in everyday language to describe how multiple forms of oppression intersect and compound each other.
Cultural References
The term “intersectionality” has appeared in popular culture, such as in the documentary “Miss Representation” and in the TV show “Westworld”.
Idiomatic Expressions or Phrases
“Intersectional approach” is a common idiomatic expression that refers to a framework or approach that acknowledges multiple forms of oppression and seeks to address them.
Collocations
1. Intersectionality and oppression
2. Intersectionality and identity
3. Intersectionality and social justice
Frequency of Use
The term “intersectionality” has gained increasing visibility and usage in recent years, particularly in academic and activist contexts. It is now a widely recognized term in the fields of sociology, anthropology, education, law, and social justice activism.
Common Misspellings
1. “Intersessionality”
2. “Intersectionalism”