Strengths And Limitations Of Intersectionality And Life Course Theory

In “Intersectional Resistance and Law Reform,” Dean Spade proposes that the United States was founded through “racialization…(which) continues to operate under new guises… that produce, manage, and deploy gender categories and sexuality and family norms” (16). More over, these laws and norms tend to maintain the “status quo,” and employ an inherently flawed justice system that is only equipped to address single-axis discrimination issues (5). Thus, the intersectionality movement is largely dismissed by the social and justice systems, as it utilizes “critical intersectional tools… that are often (too) difficult for legal scholars to comprehend” (17). Interstionality’s progress is also impeded by advocates leaving to support single-axis issues. However, Spade warns that this approach is ineffective, as it fails to protect the most marginalized members of society.

Write an essay that explains and illustrates the significance of taking an intersectional approach to queer studies. Intersectionality is a theory which states that people have multiple identities and therefore belong to more than one community and thus experience multiple oppressions at the same time. Those who face multiple oppressions because of their layered identities are mostly queer women of color. Taking an intersectional approach to queer studies means exposing the inequalities and disadvantages that occur when people have multiple identities in order for transformational political work to happen. People of color, especially lesbian women of color experience this layered oppression.

Patricia Collins tries to expose her readers to the term oppression and the different types of oppression that human beings can be subjected to or rather the different disparities that cause human oppression including gender and race among others. Collins (74) in her attempt to expound on the issue of oppression and dichotomous thinking argues that "one side of the dichotomy is typically labeled dominant and the other subordinate" which forms the basis of the definition of the term as being a way of thinking in which an individual is convinced that they are subject to being the dominant or the subordinate on the basis of different issues including race where the white male perceives himself as the dominant while the black male becomes the subordinate. The

According to (Rev. Dr. Andrea Ayvazian); author of “Interrupting the Cycle of Oppression: The Role of Allies as Agents of Change”; many of us feel overwhelmed when we consider the many forms of systemic oppression that are so pervasive in American society today. We become immobilized, uncertain about what actions we can take to interrupt the cycle of oppression and violence that intrude on our everyday lives. According to (Merriam Webster); oppression, is treating someone unjustly; or cruelly exercising authority or power; weighing down body and mind (www.merriam-webster.com). The concept of oppression examines the “isim’s); racism, sexism, heterosexism, and class privilege as interlocking systems of oppression that ensues advantages for some and diminished opportunities for others; (p. 02/03).

1) Intersectionality Intersectionality is how women’s experiences within a culture vary depending on race, class, ethnicity, nationality, disability, age, sexual orientation, region and religion (Burn 8). For example, in the film, “Listen Up! New Voices for Reproductive Justice,” the director emphasizes how current mainstream women’s issues are a reflection of the issues females in the white middle class sector face. Thus, since mainstream women’s issues are more common, the world has trouble understanding how mainstream problems are different for women of diverse backgrounds. This is exemplified by Loretta Ross, who has been fighting for people to realize that women of color encounter different issues (such as abortion) that are separate from the mainstream:

Intersectionality the analytical framework coined by Kimberle Crenshaw in 1989 was a key principle in the black feminism era in American history. As stated by Crenshaw, “Intersectionality is a lens through which you can see where power comes and collides, where it interlocks and intersects. It’s not simply that there’s a race problem here, a gender problem here, and a class or LBGTQ problem there. Many times that framework erases what happens to people who are subject to all of these things.” (Columbia Law School, “Kimberle Creshaw on Intersectionality”).

1.The theory/concept of intersectionality is a theory centered around oppression, domination and discrimination through various mediums from the social and cultural elements of society. The theory can be applied in many ways toward women as well as their involvement in the criminal justice system. Some forms of discrimination that is more prevalent in perceiving the individual is using a woman's status, race, sexual orientation, ability and age, however there can be more added to this list. The wiki article said “The theory proposes that we should think of each element or trait of a person as inextricably linked with all of the other elements in order to fully understand one's identity.”

Intersectionality can be described as the effect of overlapping of systems of discrimination, based on social categories like race, gender, and class, on an individual or group. White feminists did not understand why it was necessary to combat the racial systems that effected Chicanas. Chicanas faced ideologies of racial inferiority and hyperfertility, which contributed to the reasons why they were victims of forced sterilization. To combat forced sterilizations, Chicanas urged feminists to include a 72-hour waiting period for sterilizations and informed consent (Davis, 131). However, because white feminists at the time were focused on obtaining immediate rights to their bodies, they saw informed consent and a waiting period for sterilizations as inconveniences (Davis, 131).

Intersectionality is defined by social categories, such as race and gender that have interconnected to apply to individuals and groups, causing an overlap, which has consequently created a system of discrimination and disadvantages Kimberle Crenshaw coined the term in her article ‘Demarginalizing the Intersection of Race and Sex: A Black Feminist Critique of Antidiscrimination Doctrine, Feminist Theory and Anti-racist Politics’ (1889). Intersectionality can be recognised in many iconic Disney films such as, Cinderella, snow white. Aladdin and little mermaid. All these well-known movies provide societal intersections. This can be addressed through the protagonists and princesses ethnicity of being white, with Disney only recently introducing a black princess, in 2009.

Who I identify as, including identifying as a social worker once I graduate, will have some level privilege and power attached to the chosen identities. Gelfand, Sillivan, and Steinhouse (2002) noted that there are may dimensions that influence our personal and professional relationships with others, and these dimensions shape how we see and interact with, include or exclude them, and ways that we oppress or discriminate against them. As a social worker whose clients share my same identity, we may benefit by my having a shared understanding of cultural norms and expectations to reach a common goal. For clients who share commonalities with me, we may benefit by being able to work more collaboratively and possibly a more trusting relationship than one that must be built over time. However, just as similarities can be empowering, I must remember that the client knows best despite our shared identities that may speak otherwise.

In society, there are certain groups or populations that are perceived as incapable or undesirable. This represents marginalization. There are many groups labeled as marginalized. Black Americans, indigenous peoples, LGBTQ+ identifying individuals, and individuals with disabilities are all referred to as marginalized in our society. A specific example of this is how individuals with disabilities are seen as “incapable” and “unworthy” due to misconceptions that they are not educated and that they lack all abilities.

Intersectional Feminist Theory is the theory that women experience oppression in various forms and ways. Cultural patterns have become interlocked by the intersectional systems that society has created to continue the multi facets of oppression. This is increased where transitioning which, in itself, is taboo for why would a man want to be a woman. A man has greater rights than a woman and is widely more respected. Both trans women and natural born women face over-sexualizaton of their bodies along with societal and bodily discrimination, and physical objectification.

She explains how the lack of awareness about intersectionality skews the data behind studies on controversial

Anti-oppressive practice focuses on the structural inequalities and places the blame that service users internalize on the structures and systems themselves (Ajandi, 2018). Humanistic and social justice values and ideas shape anti-oppressive practice (Healy, 2015). They address inequalities that affect opportunities of service users, due to the interlocking of social relations and oppression (Burke & Harrison, 2002). AOP aims to identify oppressions and define ways in which social workers can attempt to become anti-oppressive, avoid discomfort, and end oppression to service users (Strega, 2007). It highlights mutual involvement between the social worker and the service user, challenging forms of oppression and inequalities (Burke & Harrison, 2002), and presents the idea that service users do not occupy a “single identity”, but instead have interlocking oppressions that work together to put clients at a social disadvantage (Strega, 2007).

Coined by feminist scholar Kimberlé Crenshaw in 1989, intersectional feminism refers to the different ways in which race and gender interact to shape the many intersections of Black women’s experiences (Crenshaw, 1991, p. 1244). Since its conception, intersectional feminist thought has grown to not only include the experiences of Black women, but to also examine how gender expression, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status (SES), and ability all interact to determine an individual’s privilege or lack thereof (LaMantia, Wagner, and Bohecker, 2015). Within a classroom setting, recognizing the complexities of intersectionality is vital to understanding the needs and experiences of each student. According to LaMantia, Wagner, and Bohecker (2015), “intersectionality is an awareness of difference, oppression, and the consequences of these interactions in terms of power,” (p.) and as such, intersectionality can provide a voice to individuals who are subject to multiple forms of oppression and marginalization within society. Therefore, a classroom that takes an intersectional feminist pedagogical approach is able to empower all students, regardless of identity, to meet their full potential.