Understanding Diversity from an Intersectional Lens
Dr. Patricia Gonzalez is Assistant Dean for Inclusive Practice at the University of Colorado Boulder and an Adjunct Faculty and Equity Labs Facilitator with the University of Denver.
Understanding equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging (EDIB) requires us to approach this work from an intersectional lens. As a higher education and EDIB practitioner, I have come to realize that in order for us to achieve equity we must understand how our limited awareness regarding “intersectionality” contributes to systems of oppression and marginalization. Prior to doing my own research of “intersectionality,” I became comfortable with understanding how my own visible and invisible identities play out when it comes to the privilege and oppression I have experienced navigating this world.
Privileged identities are those that are endowed with advantages and power by historical and contemporary systems (i.e. white male, heterosexual, able-bodied, formally educated, etc.). On the other hand, marginalized identities refers to those that are historically disadvantaged and continue to face systemic oppression by systems of thinking and operation (i.e. Black, Indigenous, LatinX, LGBTQ+, woman, disabled, etc.). I often think about how my intersecting identities as a Latina, heterosexual, abled-bodied, English as my second language, first-generation college graduate, growing up low-income, and geographically being raised in South Central Los Angeles all contributed to my experiences today. But I will be transparent that I never thought about how being a woman and Latina played out in for example my career today.
Our lack of awareness about “intersectionality” is what blocks us from understanding how one can be standing in the path of multiple forms of exclusion and be excluded by both such as gender and race (Crenshaw, 2016).
“Intersectionality” is a term coined by scholar of law, critical race theorist, and Black feminist legal theorist, Kimberlé Crenshaw in 1989. “Intersectionality” is a way of thinking about social identities and the relationship to power, structures, and systems of oppression. Crenshaw (1994) states that the overlap of various social identities such as race, gender, sexuality, and class, contribute to the specific type of systemic oppression and discrimination experienced by an individual. According to Emba (2015), “intersectionality” was used to describe how the different forms of discrimination can interact and overlap, which is why, when considering social questions and issues to advocate for, it is necessary for feminists to take into account the needs of women from a variety of backgrounds.
Crenshaw used “intersectionality” as a lens to explain the experiences of Black women who, because of the intersection of race, gender, and class, are exposed to exponential and interlocking forms of marginalization and oppression that often make them invisible (Crenshaw, 1989; Emba, 2015). Although the term was originally used to describe how race and gender could intersect as forms of oppression, today, “intersectionality” has broadened to encompass numerous social factors such as sexual orientation, nationality, class, disability, and others (Emba, 2015). In a TED Talk given by Crenshaw (2016), Crenshaw expresses “the urgency of intersectionality” as it relates to police brutality and the unheard and unspoken killings of African American women whom many of us do not know were killed at the hands of the police. During her TED Talk, Crenshaw invites the audience to “#SAYHERNAME” and that now more than ever, it's important for us to look boldly at the reality faced by Black women because of race and gender bias. When choosing to ignore both one’s race and gender, one is choosing to opt-out of understanding how the two identities combined create more harm (Crenshaw, 2016).
People often mistake the fact that “intersectionality” erasures are not exclusive to Black women. In fact, Crenshaw (2015) reminds us that “intersectionality” has given many advocates who face vulnerabilities that reflect intersections of racism, sexism, class oppression, transphobia, xenophobia, able-ism, and more a way to frame their circumstances and fight for their visibility and inclusion. Crenshaw (2015) states that such advocates include people of color within LGBTQ movements; girls of color in the fight against the school-to-prison pipeline; women within immigration movements; transgender women within feminist movements; and people with disabilities fighting police abuse.
As you continue to explore how “intersectionality” as a lens advances EDIB work, I want to offer four tips you can use to put “intersectionality” into practice and to illuminate how “intersectionality” shows up in your own experiences and in the experiences of those we interact and engage with.
1. Start with self!
One way to begin understanding and recognizing intersectionality is by knowing and understanding your identities. Take the I am poem survey offered by the University of Denver (it takes about 20-25 minutes). By participating in this survey, you will be introduced to the identities that you hold such as relational/interactional, social, and personal. Additionally, you will learn more about privileged and marginalized identities, which is important when thinking about “intersectionality”.
2. Recognize existing forms of systemic oppression and discrimination
Another approach is to acknowledge that there are existing forms of systemic oppression and discrimination that are a barrier for people to achieve equal opportunities (Opportunity Agenda, 2017). According to the Ontario Human Rights Commission (2022), systemic discrimination can be described as patterns of behavior, policies, or practices that are part of the structures of an organization, and which create or perpetuate disadvantages for racialized persons. An intersectional approach recognizes systemic oppression and discrimination due to one’s sexual orientation and identity, gender and gender identity, race, ethnicities, economic status, immigration status, national origin, and ability, etc. among other aspects of one’s identity, and that this systemic discrimination impacts access to opportunity (The Opportunity Agenda, 2017).
3. Validate people's experience(s)
Validating individual experiences requires us to accept that although we may not understand or believe one’s experiences, it is not our place to decide whether or not their experience is valid. “Intersectionality” requires recognition of voice of those most directly impacted and excluded from mainstream conversations (The Opportunity Agenda, 2017). Avoid assumptions and respect the voice of those most affected by systemic oppression by centering their voices and allowing for them to be the voices of their own truth and stories.
4. Ask questions and do research
Lastly, if you do not know, ask or do your research! Unlearning and learning about how to interlock “intersectionality” in your work, starts with you.
“Intersectionality” is a way of thinking about identity and its relationship to power. The truth is that for most individuals, their multiple identities do not function independently. When using “intersectionality” as a lens to advance EDIB work, one acknowledges that individuals hold multiple identities that interact and relate to societal inequities and social injustice (Reimers & Stabb, 2015). As individuals, we must continue to unlearn and learn ways to be more inclusive and that includes understanding the gift that Crenshaw has given by introducing and re-introducing us to “intersectionality.”
References:
Crenshaw, K. (1989). Demarginalizing the intersection of race and sex: A black feminist critique of antidiscrimination doctrine, feminist theory and antiracist politics. u. Chi. Legal f., 139.
Crenshaw, K. (1990). Mapping the margins: Intersectionality, identity politics, and violence against women of color. Stan. L. Rev., 43, 1241.
Crenshaw, K., & Charles Harris, L. (2022). #SAYHERNAME. The African American Policy Forum, 2022.
Crenshaw, K. (2015). Why intersectionality can’t wait. The Washington Post, 24(09), 2015.
Crenshaw, K. (2016). The Urgency of Intersectionality. TED Talk, 2016.
Emba, C. (2015). Opinion: Intersectionality. The Washington Post, 2015.
Ontario Human Rights Commission (2022). “Racism and racial discrimination: Systemic discrimination (fact sheet).” Retrive from: https://www.ohrc.on.ca/en/racism-and-racial-discrimination-systemic-discrimination-fact-sheet
Reimers, F. A., & Stabb, S. D. (2015). Class at the intersection of race and gender: A 15-year content analysis. The Counseling Psychologist, 43(6), 794-821.
The Opportunity Agenda (2017). “Ten Tips for Putting Intersectionality into Practice.” Retrieve from: https://www.opportunityagenda.org/explore/resources-publications/ten-tips-putting-intersectionality-practice