It is often discussed how different aspects of our identity cause us to experience discrimination, disadvantages, and oppression. Examples of the forms of discrimination include racism and sexism. However, it is understood that it is possible for an individual or a community to experience more discrimination than another. An example would be a black woman in comparison to a white woman. A black woman would be subject to both sexism and racism while a white woman would experience primarily the former.
The term which best describes this situation is intersectionality. Explained by the Oxford learners dictionary, intersectionality means “the network of connections between social categories such as race, class and gender, especially when this may result in additional disadvantage or discrimination.”
One type of intersectionality, known as ‘intersectional feminism’ focuses on the different forms of discrimination like age, race, ethnicity, homophobia and its connection to gender. The perspective brought about when including intersectionality allows us to have more inclusive and more just policies.
The term intersectionality was first introduced by Kimberlé Crenshaw in a paper in 1989. In this paper, Crenshaw argued that focusing on a single type of discrimination only fueled discrimination against black women as they were faced with multiple types of discrimination, namely sexism and racism.
Working class, Lesbian, Black and Latina feminists had been debating methods of thinking and theorising until Crenshaw gave them a name. The Combahee River Collective of black lesbians was groundbreaking with their work. They advocated for lesbians to fight against homophobia, for white women to fight against sexism, and for black men to fight against racism. This displayed the impact of intersectionality and intersectional understanding of identity and social power on the opportunities to take action.
Through political struggle, these ideas and concepts have gained acceptance and recognition in feminist theory and women's studies. The term intersectional feminism is additionally growing more popular amongst feminists and in the modern time, has spread to include feminists activist and social justice circles.
However, its popularity and large-scale use has allowed for criticism and debate to occur about how to use intersectional feminism such as the argument that it should always bring attention to racism and racialisation.
Furthermore, there is also the notion that recognition of different issues allows feminism to become more effective. Crenshaw wrote in her writings that independent approaches to social categories caused black women's oppression to go unrecognised. Black feminists support this claim as they have reiterated that white feminists often overlook how race can change the experiences of different women.
An example of this is hair discrimination. It is only in the more recent years where South African, British, and American organisations realise limiting black women’s hairstyles at the expense of their natural hair is discriminatory. This is an intersectional strategy as white men and most black men do not experience the discriminations and pressures to change their hair.
In another case, the rights of working-class women have been ignored in the campaigns of white middle-class feminists. With intersectionality, the goal is to fight and advocate for each of these issues in a manner which acknowledges all the hardships and issues.
Another instance of this is during the 1970s and 1980s in which the US and UK “abortion on demand” policies ignored the needs of black women as they were forced to fight against forced abortions. We can understand that for women, the fight for the right to reproduction is different.
Moving forward with the discussion of intersectional feminism and reproductive rights, it is strongly believed that decisions regarding the issue of reproductive rights should be looked at through the lens of an intersectional feminist. There needs to be an understanding it is impossible to fight for reproductive rights without privilege coming into play. These decisions being important, should not be made by those who engage in discrimination of race, gender, class, etc.
It has been proven that black women have a higher likelihood of dying due to a pregnancy-related circumstance as compared to white women. There is a clear understanding of the inequality in the health and safety black women and other minorities in the medical field. Without taking up the intersectional perspective, we fail to understand these disparities and gaps.
We as a society have developed an understanding that reproductive rights are a need, as in many occasions it has saved countless lives. There are situations and circumstances in which abortion is the only choice in order to ensure one’s well-being. While we must try our best to support all women, the support can be inefficient if we are not understanding the matter through the intersectional feminism perspective.
In the 35 years since Crenshaw coined the term intersectional feminism, there have been studies and analysis of the position of women in society. When discussing the term intersectionality, we are given a reminder to engage and spark relevant and meaningful conversation in regards to how the different categories affect one another and how it creates power dynamics. While intersectionality does not stop policies and policies from focusing on a singular social category, it does continue to emphasise the need to explore and understand these categories in connection to one another.
by Aditi Jomen Bhardwaj, a highschool junior.
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