By Caleigh Montoya, Staff Writer
I have been learning about intersectionality in my Criminology class and my First-Year Writing class. Intersectionality is defined as “the idea that multiple oppressions reinforce each other to create new categories of suffering.” Learning about this in my classes has opened my eyes into how intersectionality plays a role in social justice. On a smaller scale, it has shown me how intersectionality affects self-identification.
Intersectionality originated from Black Feminists, as they were attempting to explain how a black woman’s experience cannot be limited by neither gender nor race. This must be understood on their terms by considering both characteristics.
Social justice needs to identify intersectionality to understand the full scope of oppression in a particular case. An example I find useful is the difference in feminism between white and black women. A black feminist may be excluded from the feminist movement as their experience as a black woman differs from a white woman. This is because of the added system of oppression working against black women, their race. Factors such as race make everybody’s experience with injustice unique.
An intersectional lens is necessary to make sense of social issues. Disregarding certain aspects of someone’s identity is disregarding their entire experience in this world. Acknowledging the different forces of injustice acting on one person based on their gender, race, age, size, and sexuality is whole-heartedly recognizing them and their identity. Social justice can only be completely fulfilled by understanding intersectionality and its connection to different levels of oppression. This type of lens is also necessary for understanding how people are shaped by their membership to different social groups.
Intersectionality has opened my eyes as to how I identify. I usually define myself as a mixed, young cis-woman. I do not speak about what race I identify as. I do not explain my age, or my sexuality. If I Introduced myself as a Black, Chicana, Native American, straight, 18-year-old woman, there would be added levels of my identity told. This more extensive definition makes me feel heard, unlike the first simplified version. When wondering about who you are, think about intersectionality to create a more honest and complex identity. Another thought to ponder, how does intersectionality impact the way you experience the world?