Though law professor and activist, Kimberl Crenshaw first introduced the term in 1989 (in her article Demarginalizing the Intersection of Race and Sex), as Mecca Jamilah Sullivan explains, Black women writers have been narrating, speaking, and singing from the intersection since long before 1989.. Demarginalizing the Intersection of Race and Sex: A Black Feminist Critique of Antidiscrimination Doctrine, Feminist Theory and Antiracist Politics. Bose, C. (2012). Social class. News Below are five examples. While this Venn diagram was created in the context of business organizations, it may be useful to prompt a reflection. Especially for undergraduate college students who may not be used to having these kinds of political discussions at home, I acknowledge that the lecture could be very uncomfortable. Appropriation and Appreciation: What's the Difference? In my classrooms, I establish the principles that well remain aware of our privileges, treat others experiences with respect, and be kind to others and ourselves. What layered identities might a student have, and what identities might educational settings activate? This post contains affiliate links and I may be compensated if you make a purchase through my link at no additional cost to you. Im committed to rigorous research-led subject content that grounds learning in students lived experiences and everyday practice. When it was introduced into academia, it was seen as a well-needed critique of the failure of race, gender, and class theorists to explore how disadvantage crosses identity factors and compounds upon itself. On your quest for more intersectional viewpoints, check out this list of podcasts. The Guardian article that explores Damores autism would offer an opportunity for students to discuss the intersecting dynamics of sexism, ableism, and capitalism. Understanding how race/ethnicity and gender define age-trajectories of disability: An intersectionality approach. Intersectionality fully informs YW Bostons work, by encouraging nuanced conversations around inequity in Boston. Missing and Indigenous Women. Other students visibly bristle around him. The classroom, with all its limitations, remains a location of possibility. Washington, DC 20052, Honey W. Nashman Center for Civic Engagement and Public Service, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Online Course, Resources on Arab, Muslim and Middle Eastern Communities, Resources on Implicit Bias & Microaggressions, The George Washington University Response Action Plan for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Addressing COVID-19 Related Bias & Discrimination, Maintaining Equity and Inclusion in Virtual Learning Environments Guidance for GW Faculty, Disability Support Services for Virtual Learning, Title IX Protections and Responsibilities During COVID-19, Mapping the Margins: Intersectionality, Identity Politics, and Violence against Women of Color by Kimberl Crenshaw, Demarginalizing the Intersection of Race and Sex: A Black Feminist Critique of Antidiscrimination Doctrine, Feminist Theory and Antiracist Politics by Kimberl Crenshaw, Podcast: Intersectionality Matters! We get it. In my first lecture, I also set the expectation to students that they should be prepared to learn, be challenged, and grow. Visibly disabled people often find it difficult for society to see them as anything other than their disability. Video of Sonny Singh by #RaceAnd, 2016, 3 minutes. Crenshaws work initially focused on the experiences of black women. Scholars today use intersectionality to understand the differences between the experiences of diverse groups in higher education and the workforce. Many times that framework erases what happens to people who are subject to all of these things. In 2013, The Oxford Dictionary of Social Work and Social Care broadened Crenshaws conceptualization of the term, defining it as the combined effects of one's multiple identities, which includes identities such as race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, and employee status. To address this, one TikTok star named Stephen has been educating people on what its like to be both disabled and gay. Careers at Mines This empty space (the dotted line box) is the future home for a yet-to-be-released birthday present as part of our 5th Birthday Extravaganza. In fact, studies have found that black people also face the problem that they are underrepresented in the research on LGBT experiences. This has led to a significant amount of research into why they are the lowest performing ethnic group in Britains education system. By doing so, we can begin to institute change in a meaningful and long-lasting way that is social justice oriented and people-centered. Ive used more serious academic videos about intersectionality theory in the past but they did leave some students even more confused. Consultation services are available to all UConn faculty at all campuses at no charge. Its designed for elementary school students, but both my undergraduate and postgraduate students appreciate its clarity. Read - Intersectionality Part Two: The Workplace, Read - Intersectionality Part Three: Intentional Intersectionality. Earlier this week, we explored the dimensions of power and examined how they inform work and society. Check out our facilitator guide to help you have a successful first go. The Oxford Handbook of Feminist Theory. Without linking identities to systems of power, some students could easily walk away from the subject with the notion that intersectionality is simply a navel-gazing exercise. Some of us have little experience with social justice, but seek a better understanding of inequity in Greater Boston. Map and Directions. Please note, the OE does not accept solicitations to partner, sponsor, promote, and/or publish content from external organizations. The idea behind the principled space recognizes that its not ever truly possible to guarantee a safe space and thus in its place, we can at least commit to adhering to a set of agreed principles. Just as many disciplines now require a positionality statement in published research, instructors may consider reflecting on their teaching positionality. In Canada, indigenous people have been raising the alarm about the apparent lack of police or government interest in the high rates of missing indigenous women. Once we recognize this difference, we can move away from language that seeks to define people by a singular identity. Carbado, D., Crenshaw, K., Mays, V., & Tomlinson, B. 888-446-9489, Alumni and Friends Copyright 2023 Helpful Professor. This is a coin termed to describe the medias hyperfocus on white women who go missing. Intersectional feminism is a thought-provoking and rewarding theory to teach. Parents Historically, boys have been over-diagnosed with ADHD and girls have been under-diagnosed. My teaching philosophy follows an approach known as critical pedagogy a learner-centered approach that aims to empower students towards positive social impact. Framing Questions on Intersectionality A Resource provided by the US Human Rights Network and the Rutgers Center for Women's Global Leadership1 Intersectionality refers to how our multiple identities change how we experience the world, and what that means as we work to build inclusive schools, organizations, workplaces and communities." PBS Activities focused on Intersectionality Social Justice Toolbox - Classroom Activities on the topic of Intersectionality Four types of bias are commonly experienced in the workplace. In other words, intersectional theory asserts that people are often disadvantaged by multiple sources of oppression: their race, class, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, and other identity markers. In a recent interview withTime Magazine, Kimberl Crenshaw explained what intersectionality means to her today. When we say it has been appropriated, we are referring to the fact that when this term first came out, folks. Without an intersectional lens, events and movements that aim to address injustice towards one group may end up perpetuating systems of inequities towards other groups. Highlighting SGM Persons Living with Disabilities, History of Black Scientists: Ruth Ella Moore & James McCune Smith, Honoring "The Dream" Through Acts of Service and Allyship, How the Past Informs Views on Racial Discrimination, How to Utilize Your Equal Employment Opportunity Office, Intersectionality Part One: Intersectionality Defined, Intersectionality Part Three: Intentional Intersectionality, Intersectionality Part Two: The Workplace, Latinx LGBTQ+ Pride: A Conversation with Dr. Erik Rodriquez. https://helpfulprofessor.com/examples-of-intersectionality/. When students meet together in the tutorial, they apply what they learned through their independent reflection and the lecture to a group activity on intersectionality. Why Do They Matter? The OE is not responsible for the accuracy, legality, or content of the resources above. Should the EEOC Extend Age Discrimination Protection to those Under 40? The Office of Inclusion and Outreach (OIO) provides sustained, comprehensive programs across all educational levels to promote access and increase numbers of underrepresented populations in healthcare, STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) and research professions. Intersectionality and Higher Education by Lindsay A. Greyerbiehl (Editor); Donald Jr. Mitchell (Editor); Charlana Simmons (Editor) Intersectionality is a term coined by Kimberl Crenshaw in 1989. The defendants argued that they were experiencing the additive effects of both racial and gender discrimination in workplace hiring practices. Here, we see an intersection between gender and disability where there is a compounding effect of disadvantage. Madam Walker produced a range of cosmetics that were specifically made for black women. "Once they've grown up, African American children are more likely than their white counterparts to backslide into a lower economic group. How do you explain what it means today? 812 20th Street NW The black women argued that their discrimination was unique from black men and white women. Key concepts: identity, intersectionality Time 2 hours Materials needed o Identity signs printed and posted around the room o Chart Circles o Markers, tape o Chart Paper o Case studies - handout o How Strong Beats My Heart - handout o Laptop/projector for videos Agenda 1.elcome W & Icebreaker 10 min 2. Du Bois Review: Social Science Research on Race. If you have any suggested resources you think should be added to the guide, please submit them here! Intersectionality is a framework for conceptualizing a person, group of people, or social problem as affected by a number of discriminations and disadvantages. For example, although the percentage of White females earning their college degree continues to outpace White males (51% to 44%), a recent report from The Education Trust found that only 26.6% of Hispanic women graduate college. Intersectionality. A scholar of law, critical race theory, and Black feminist thought, Crenshaw used intersectionality to explain the experiences of Black women who - because of the intersections of race, gender, and . Whats often missing is how some people are subject to all of these, and the experience is not just the sum of its parts.". All articles are edited by a PhD level academic. This will allow us to expose the inequities inhistory,policies, structures,and lived realities marginalized persons have and continue to endure. It is also a practical tool that can be used to tackle intersectional discrimination through policies and laws. Its basically a lens, a prism, for seeing the way in which various forms of inequality often operate together and exacerbate each other. Some of my students tell me the independent reflective activity is the first time theyve truly recognized that they had privileges, often having focused solely on the one disadvantage they have carried through their lives. For instance, a black man and a white woman make $0.74 and $0.78 to a white mans dollar, respectively. This activity focuses on what are our salient identities in particular circumstances. Calendar One of the most powerful, influential theories that have helped us to rethink power and identities in recent years is intersectionality theory. This icebreaker can be used to launch a study about leadership or how to respond to obstacles or topics like that. However, the overarching hierarchy of power and privilege that have set-up an inequitable system is what Kimberl was describing. It also very successfully critiqued how feminism tended to focus on the experiences of white middle-class women in the 1980s. At the end of the post, youll have the option to sign up for my newsletter and receive a copy of my lecture slides with all the principles, activity templates, and extra disclaimers to adapt and use in your classes. An activity that highlights how different identities may be experience or differently salient for each individual Materials & Media: Identity signs Clips, tape, or something sticky to hang the signs Set Up: Hang up the identity signs around the roomideally, before the workshop begins so they are part of the space from the very beginning. Families highlight that, for decades, there have been insufficient police investigations. Try an Inclusion Icebreaker! It also helps young people to recognize the full humanity of marginalized people, especially, Read More 5 Foundational Practices for Teaching Social Justice in the ClassroomContinue, Using Restorative Justice in the Classroom to Address Harm, A White Mans World: What WOC Should Know Before Doing A PhD, 5 Foundational Practices for Teaching Social Justice in the Classroom, Introducing Intersectional Feminism: An Activity, ground-clearing practice that sets a leveled foundation upon which to build our work and relations, Building the Anti-Racist Classroom (BARC), Demarginalizing the intersection of race and sex: A black feminist critique of antidiscrimination doctrine, feminist theory, and antiracist politics, Feminist originalism: Intersectionality and the politics of reading, 5 Must-Read Intersectional Feminist Books for Beginners. They did not face discrimination because of their race or gender; they faced discrimination because of the cumulative effects of their race and gender. Families highlight that, for decades, there have been insufficient police investigations. It takes into account peoples overlapping identities and experiences in order to understand the complexity of prejudices they face. One way of doing so is when you attend rallies, take a look at the signs that others hold how do they assert their identity and how does this inform the issues they care most about? For example, this syndrome sits in stark contrast to the missing and murdered indigenous women problems highlighted above. In your own time, seek out existing intersectional narratives, from your podcasts to your television. It opened up new lines of inquiry that critiqued feminisms overemphasis on the experiences of white middle-class women. team ice breaker games; So, here is the list! Crenshaw, K. (1991). Nash, J. Looking for a way to jump-start your next meeting? They should also be given poster paper and markers to write down their analysis of the case. A Queer and Pleasant Danger: The true story of a nice Jewish boy who joins the Church of Scientology, and leaves twelve years later to become the lovely lady she is today. The information here provides abasicoverview of important considerations related to IntersectionalityIt is crucial that you continue expanding upon this knowledge and look further into the concepts presented that you are unfamiliar with and/or are curious about. The principled space was originally developed by artist and activist, Hanalei Ramos. We cite peer reviewed academic articles wherever possible and reference our sources at the end of our articles. Graduate Student Government Related: 5 Foundational Practices for Teaching Social Justice in the Classroom. Intersectionality, in particular, is a term that many people and organizations assert an importance for, but that others are unclear on. About The Helpful Professor Madam C.J Walker was a black woman who was a successful entrepreneur at a time when women and people of color were widely and overtly oppressed by American laws and society. 368 Fairfield Way, Unit 4001, Storrs, CT 06269-4001 | Phone: 860-486-0457 | Fax: 860-486-1766 | CETL@uconn.edu, Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning, Building community and Brave Spaces as a Foundation for DEI work, Supporting and Including International Students, Creating Accessible Classrooms and Courses, Recognizing Identity and Intersectionality in the Classroom, Creating an LGBTQIA+ inclusive environment, Critical Thinking and other Higher-Order Thinking Skills, Tips for Grading without Utilizing Attendance, Flexible Teaching to Minimize Disruptions, Teaching Non-Native English Speaking Students, 50 Classroom Assessment Techniques (CATS), Center for Integration of Research, Teaching and Learning, The Teaching Professor and Magna Digital Library, National Center for Faculty Development and Diversity, Teaching and Learning Academy by Gardner Institute, Consultation on Developing an Online Course, Office of Continuing and Professional Education, Office for Diversity and Inclusion Reources. Critical to educating for social justice is to set expectations for your students that you will be having difficult discussions and to establish a principled space with them from the outset of the school term. Collins, P. H., & Bilge, S. (2020). If you are meeting with a local LGBTQ+ organization, is there representation of LGBTQ+ people of color? Intersectionality theory examines how matrices of power and interlocking structures of oppression shape and influence people's multiple identities. What are Gender Pronouns? Over time, I experimented with different ways to introduce intersectional feminism constructively and sensitively in the classroom. #WOMENSHISTORYMONTH: Be Inspired Unsung Leaders at the NIH, Part 1, #WOMENSHISTORYMONTH: Be Inspired Unsung Leaders at the NIH, Part 2, #WOMENSHISTORYMONTH: Be Inspired Unsung Leaders at the NIH, Part 3, 10 Tips for Using a Sign Language Interpreter, 10 Tips on How to Prepare Yourself and Obtain a Promotion, 2019 MLK Campaign: Telling Their Stories, Marching for Civil Rights, 3 Things That Employee Resource Groups Can Do in Response to Surge in Anti-Asian Attacks, 5 Ways I Am Being A Champion During National Womens Health Week, 7 Tips for Managers in Preventing Retaliation, A New Initiative: Exploring Perspectives from Krystal Kaai, A New Toolkit in the Time of COVID-19: The NoBody is Disposable Coalition, Advancing Racial Equity: A Shared Analytical Framework, Advancing Racial Equity: Acknowledging Anti-Asian Racism, An Inclusive United States: Religious Inclusion in the Federal Workplace, Anatomy of a Black Woman: My Body is Beautiful. Why Are We Honoring Coretta Scott King on MLK Day? Interestingly, were we to change just one identity marker of the WASP, a new stereotype emerges. Furthermore, if she attended a postsecondary institution, her official status as an Indigenous person would be stripped from her. Women werent fully given the vote at a federal level until 1918, and Indigenous people until 1960. Intersectionality is a framework or lens used to analyze or discuss multiple aspects of individual identity (e.g., race, class, gender, sexuality, etc.) A greater proportion of girls than boys with ADHD and ADD exhibit behaviors like chattiness, daydreaming, and shyness. Geology Museum Cooper, B. Lower-class people who are white, Anglo-Saxon, and protestant, are stereotyped as hillbillies. Explore any of these five-minute exercises that center on a relevant diversity, inclusion and access topic. Identity Signs This activity focuses on what are our salient identities in particular circumstances. The OE does not provide dedicated funding for these resources. If you experience a barrier that affects your ability to access content on this page, let us know via the. https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/admin/, 15 Famous Experiments and Case Studies in Psychology, 10 Social Fact Examples (Material & Non-Material) - Durkheim, Ethnomethodology: Examples and Definition, Social Phenomenon: 45 Examples and Definition (Sociology). Reasonable Accommodation Request Denied? By avoiding language that assumes our own experiences are baseline, we can open ourselves up to listening to others points of view. In a time when women were relegated to the domestic sphere, and black people were silenced, she broke through to influence public sentiment across the nation. and the unique privileges and oppressions individuals may experience where those identities overlap. At the end of the semester, I bring the consideration of interlocking systems of power back to the students identities and prompts them to cut a path for action: Write a journal entry of how your work and/or life have been shaped by the imperialist white supremacist capitalist patriarchy (or its permutations across cultures), and the effects this had on you, the organization, and society at large. In the middle of my lecture on the gender pay gap in organizations, a student interrupts me to proclaim how the gender pay gap cant possibly exist because his mother is a senior manager in her company and gets paid more than the men she works with.