The Complexities & Origins of Intersectionality

Intersectionality is a concept absolutely essential to conversations and movements surrounding identity and equity. Each of us are made of such unique and diverse components that it would be impossible to analyze issues like discrimination and bias without considering multiple parts of ourselves. I, for one, was incredibly surprised to find out that intersectionality was not widely recognized or discussed until around a decade ago. Let’s dive into how the term intersectionality came about, and what nuances it brings to topics of social justice and DEI. 

The word intersectionality itself was coined by legal scholar and professor Kimberlé Crenshaw in 1989 during what is known as the second wave feminism movement. Black women were continuously fighting for visibility in the struggle for women’s rights. In particular, Black women often experienced discrimination in the workplace on the basis of both their gender and their race. However, they were not legally allowed to sue for both gender and race discrimination, despite the fact that they experienced prejudice on both counts simultaneously. Crenshaw, a Black woman herself, recognized this issue and strived to create vocabulary that could be used to articulate these challenges. 

In creating the term intersectionality, Crenshaw explained that our multitude of identities can be compared to traffic flowing at an intersection. Each one may be moving in a different direction or at a different speed, but they all exist and hold weight nonetheless. 

In her paper “Demarginalizing the Intersection of Race and Sex,” Crenshaw claims that the law seemed to forget that Black women were both Black and female. Treating Black women as purely women or purely Black ignores specific challenges that they face as a group. Crenshaw was criticized at first by influential courts, judges, and lawyers. They told her that they couldn’t grant specific protections to Black women because it would force them to protect all kinds of intersecting minority groups.

However, Kimberlé Crenshaw soon realized that her concept needed to leave the world of law in order to gain the attention it deserved. In 2015, the word “intersectionality” was added to the Oxford English Dictionary. It was also lifted up during the 2017 Women’s March as participants emphasized how women are affected by several human rights issues as a result of their many identities. Intersectionality is said to have “gone viral” in the past ten years. As the term made its way outside of academic circles, it began to be used to encompass all kinds of identities—not just gender and race. 

In fact, the Oxford Dictionary of Social Work and Social Care defines intersectionality as “the combined effects of one’s multiple identities, which includes identities such as race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, and employee status.” Intersectionality recognizes that different forms of oppression and privilege can intersect, granting unique challenges to those with unique identities. Our environments can actually cause our affinities with each of our identities to change; you may feel more connected to a specific identity of yours in a certain environment, whether that’s at home, at school, or in an affinity group or cultural setting. 

A number of organizations we’ve highlighted in the past seek to help young people whose intersectional identities call for more tailored care. Desi Rainbow Parents & Allies and the National Black Justice Coalition are both committed to uplifting and providing support for the LGBTQ+ community in relation to race and family acceptance. Additionally, the Ms. Foundation for Women leads initiatives focused on providing resources for low-income women of color. Looking further into these organizations and their specific missions is a great way to continue familiarizing yourself with the concept of intersectionality. 

Intersectionality is so important because it allows each individual to feel seen for their whole selves—not just certain parts of themselves. Whether it’s in your everyday life or in larger institutions such as healthcare or education, intersectionality needs to be taken into account in order to fully and effectively address issues concerning safety and well-being.