Intersectionality Theory: The Intersectional Theory Of The Women's Suffrage Movement

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Intersectionality Theory
Intersectionality also known as intersectional theory originally was a theory which was encoded in feminism. Intersectionality was a term in which feminists developed to explain how they were being socially oppressed because they were woman, in particular this theory addressed issues of the women’s suffrage movement and women wanting to retain the same rights as their male counterparts. As time progressed it became more common to see see it branched out into multidimensional levels of institutions such as- race, class, sexism, culture, religion, and even biological transgender. Intersectionality by definition aims to analyze multiple identities exposing different types of discrimination and disadvantages that occur …show more content…

This theory focuses on using multiple factors to conceptualize systems of oppression. Patricia Collins, in her article, “Towards A New Vision” mentions to the reader it is important that we realize race, class, and gender are interlocking categories of analysis that together cultivate profound differences in our personal biographies (Collins,1989). Meaning, it is important to take into account an individual’s identity is more than just being female/male or black/white. Intersectionality allows for multiple factors to be analyzed at a time rather than just analyze dichotomous factors. For example, within intersectionality individuals are allowed to analyze the life of a Hispanic women, living in a low class neighborhood, who has a means of low education. Collins states, “we must re-conceptualize race, class, and gender in order to create new categories of connection and questions how can we transcend these barriers created by our experience with race, class, and gender oppression.” However, intersectionality brings forth many problems in terms of social …show more content…

As Aker notes within, his article capitalism entered the United States as a system in which was dominated predominately by white males (Acker, 2006). This domination created gender/race segregation and created inequalities in wages (Acker, 2006). He notes, within his article gender is a subculture in which has been embedded in capitalism. Race and gender allows for individuals to be treated differently under a capitalistic economy. “While white men were and are the main publicly recognized […] these are just not any white men (Acker, 2006).” White men are viewed as individuals whom were superior/privileged over other individuals within the capitalistic economy work force. They are individuals who moved from farmers to professional business men, notes Acker. Within his article Acker also mentions, “A living wage or a just wage for white men was higher than a living wage for white women or for women and men from minority racial and ethnic groups (2006).” White men are individuals in which receive higher wages over all other racial ethnicities as well as sex. Generally, speaking they are individuals in which help encourage racial/gender segregation. Allocating wage inequality helped to maintain and grow occupations such as clerical, farming, and factory jobs as segregated low paying jobs (Acker,

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