Intersectionality

Intersectionality is an analytical, methodological, and liberatory tool used to understand the multiple and complex ways oppression functions. It acknowledges how systems of power and division such as racism and sexism do not operate in a discrete and mutually exclusive way but rather intersect and build on each other. It begins with the recognition that human experiences can rarely be explained by just one factor. They are generally shaped by the myriad ways our identities overlap. For example, People of Color often experience discrimination based not just on race but on gender, sexuality, and economic background, to name a few. In this way, intersectionality provides a framework to better understand the intricate ways axes of social division (i.e., race, class, and gender) connect in a ...