Intersectionality Essay

Intersectionality is “the theory that the overlap of various social identities, as race, gender, sexuality, and class, contributes to the specific type of systematic oppression and discrimination experienced by an individual” (Vimeo 2018). Intersectionality in my definition would be described as the power of hierarchy and its ability to diminish an individual’s importance. With that meaning, an individual belonging to multiple minority classes and identities such as their race, culture, gender, religion, education, ability, etc. can lead to their issues being disregarded. Intersectioanlity is very common when it comes to gender inequality and racial discrimination. After Kimberle’ Crenshaw debuted her first Intersectionality speech to the world
Franchesca Ramsey and Laci Green talk about how the Feminist Movement from the very beginning has had a habit of leaving every woman of color, race and gender behind and how Intersectionality can be an essential analytical tool to help understand each woman’s unique experience of the world. It was mentioned in the video, “On feminist issues where we hold privilege, it’s crucial to listen to the woman who don’t. To listen to their experiences, to see the world through a more complex lens and to raise the voices of those who have less power. Because you can’t exactly walk the walk if you have no idea where the walk even goes” (Franchesca Ramsey and Lace Green 2015). A movement cannot be effective if it does not address the needs and the unequal issues that all women face. That is not a feminist movement. That is why Intersectionality is essential because we are able to examine how privilege and oppression works at every level and listen to one another to get a better understanding of their story. With Intersectionality, we can study Feminism through a more extensive analytical
With these issues being spread around, the concept of Intersectionality can be essential by understanding the oppressions that an individual can face and the privileges that a fortunate individual can face. For example, an upscale class, white woman is perceived to be in the normality category compared to a black, lower class woman. A difference in economic class and race grants privilege and power in society. Intersectionality is essential in this case because we are able to consider and understand how privilege, social injustice and power can serve in interlocking ways. Furthermore, with Intersectionality, one can be able to tell what is being perceived from the overlapping of different social identities when they are reciprocally inferior and