Intersectionality and How It Affects Our Identity

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?

Run Like a Girl and Mistreated as One Too

By Sophie Bui, Staff Writer

“Could you give us a twirl and tell us about your outfit?” was apparently the most dire question to ask Eugenie Bouchard, a Canadian tennis player after her winning match in the 2015 Australian Open. This question caused a flood of criticism towards sports media and opened the discussion about gender discrimination within the industry itself. How could a twirl be so important?

Female athletes are discriminated against. Shocker. Female athletes endure mistreatment time and time again. In the male-dominated sports world, women must suffer sexism in the media. We are all aware that sexism = bad, but as we dissect the sports media industry, lines are easily blurred.

Why are women's sports deemed uninteresting?

Apparently, the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) is a common target for criticism on this front. There is a clear lack of media coverage and an absence of marketing of women’s basketball compared to men’s basketball. Time has proven that women’s sports can be entertaining to an audience. The notion that “women's sports are not interesting to watch” is simply untrue. Both the WNBA and women’s sports in general are growing in popularity, yet sports media has used their platforms to highlight predominately male athletes. We cannot ignore the clear underlying sexism within that statement. This criticism invalidates much of female athletes’ accomplishments and achievements. It perpetuates the old-fashioned stereotype that women are weak. If we, as a society, continue to allow these stereotypes to grow, it prevents equity among genders. Imagine a world in which women’s sports and merchandising were just as prevalent in society as men's. The lack of media coverage and marketing only perpetuates the stereotype that the sport is uninteresting.

Let's put it into a different perspective.

Sports like cricket and rugby are not prevalent in American media. This doesn’t mean that those sports are uninteresting, but simply, they are not as popular. Now we ask ourselves, how do we increase the popularity? We have to learn how to market the sport to Americans. This is also applicable to women’s sports. We live in a capitalist world in which everyone is a consumer. The lack of marketing and media coverage truly affects this industry and as a result, decreases the popularity of women’s sports.

According to a study conducted by Purdue University in 2021, women's sports coverage is only 5.4% of sports media even though women represent over 40% of professional players. Only 5%. Let that sink in for a minute. The consistent media spotlight on men only perpetuates male dominance in this field. Even with the limited spotlight many of these female athletes receive, the coverage of women vs. men is strikingly different. A female athlete's personal life seems more important than the sport they play. Rather than focusing on the accomplishments and game at play, many interviews target their focus on the outfits these women wear and the body that is displaying it. That little 5% doesn’t even focus on the importance of the sport the women are playing.

Why does this happen?

It is a pretty simple and straightforward answer. Money. As sad as it is, women’s bodies are often capitalized and profited from. Sexualization amongst women isn’t anything new. Sexualization often objectifies the individual and diminishes her sports career to just a Sports-Illustrated cover in a tight uniform.

Why does representation matter?

Representation in media can amplify voices and bring to light diverse stories. Because of low representation, there has been a decrease in young female athletes. The youth need role models to look up to and sports media is the most influential way to highlight female athletes. Our perception is always changing due to our environment—an environment that disregards female athletes' accomplishments.

A twirl. To some, it is a minuscule request. To most, it is a symbol of the long history of gender discrimination within sports media. A twirl. It represents that little 5% that us, female athletes grasp at. A twirl. Means nothing, but at the same time, it means everything. A twirl.

V-Day

Photo Source// Emily Lovell

By Emily Lovell, Associate Editor

V-Day is a global movement to end violence against women and girls. Regis University celebrated its 5th annual V-Day event on February 28, 2019 from 6:30-9:00 p.m. in the St. John Francis Regis Chapel. Admittance was only $2 and all proceeds were donated to The Empowerment Program, an organization that “provides education, employment assistance, health, housing referrals, and support services for women who are in disadvantaged positions due to incarceration, poverty, homelessness, HIV/AIDS infection, and/or involvement in the criminal justice system.”

All attendees were invited to bring toiletry items which would be donated to The Gathering Place, “Denver’s only daytime drop-in center for women, children, and transgender individuals who are experiencing poverty or homelessness.” The items were also used to vote on art created by Regis students for the event. Desserts were served during a short intermission in which the winner of the art contest was announced.

Chris Pramuk, the Chair in Ignatian Thought, gave the opening remarks about how spirituality and sexuality are often placed in separate spheres but argued that sexuality is intertwined with spirituality. Therefore, he found it fitting that the event was taking place in the chapel (In previous years, it has been in the Mountain View Room).

Then, several Regis students performed powerful pieces of poetry, creative writing, and music. Some of the works were original, and others were written by the likes of Eve Ensler, whose poems “My Angry Vagina,” “Fur is Back,” and “My Revolution Begins in the Body” were featured. In fact, Ensler created V-Day in 1998 and is most well-known for her play The Vagina Monologues.

Alison McCarthy, the Assistant Director Victim Advocacy and Violence Prevention, concluded the event by thanking everyone who participated and reminded students of the resources available to them. Overall, it was a powerful evening full of thought-provoking art.