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Intersectionality feminist essay
Intersectional feminism essay
Intersectional feminism essay
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According to feminist scholar Victoria Bromley, intersectionality is a theory used by feminists that considers the intertwinement of systems of oppressions, intricate multiple identities of individuals, and social inequalities of society. Each of these factors influence the lives of humanity and have ultimately created a world where being different can either be a negative or positive thing. Through the use of expression and persuasion, Bromely argues that intersectionality analyzes the complexity of multiple identities and their interrelationships, the experiences and positionalities of those with multiple identities and their existence within the frameworks of power, which are systems of inclusion and exclusion, and hierarchies of privilege,
and the unspoken and invisible advantages that is not earned but granted to individuals based on their markers of identity—gender, race, class, sexuality, ability, and age.
According to Lee Anne Bell’s “Theoretical Foundations,” from Reading for Diversity and Social Justice, social justice is described as a society that contributes to one another and has its resources. In addition, people living in the society can feel safe and secure. Although, the idea of social justice is interfered with oppression. Bell describes a few main features that set up the issue with oppression which include pervasive, restrictive, hierarchical, complex, multiple and cross cutting relationships. She describes pervasive as a better transition towards oppression instead of using discrimination, bias, and prejudice. The study can be further investigated with other readings from RDSJ, such as “Taking the Indian Out of the Indian” by Grinde
In the world of sociology and the studies of human interaction, the term intersectionality has been defined as, “the idea that various biological, social, and cultural categories – including gender, race, class, and ethnicity – interact and contribute towards systematic social inequality” (“Definition of Intersectionality – Sociology”). However, as Dr. White defined the term on the Spring 2014 Final Writing Assignment sheet, these categories that make up one’s identity can “intersect or interact in ways that can either advantage or disadvantage the person’s well-being and development” (White). In regards to the text, David M. Newman’s Identities & Inequalities: Exploring the Intersections of Race, Class, Gender, and Sexuality, Newman progressively explores the concept of intersectionality throughout the entirety of the text, but he does not ever actually define the term itself. Although an exact, clear-cut definition of the term “intersectionality” has not been officially established, the concept of the term is fairly simple to understand. Every person has different social identities that they carry to their name. Intersectionality is simply an analysis of how those different identities play off of each other and how they affect the person they are describing.
“[T]he cage may or may not be specifically developed for the purpose of trapping the bird, yet it still operates (together with the other wires) to restrict its freedom” (Alexander, 184). This metaphor used by Michelle Alexander gives a good basis on the idea of intersectionality within feminist theory. What Alexander has stressed hugely in ‘The New Jim Crow’ is the idea of racial hierarchy, which bell hooks also stresses in her chapter Men: Comrades in Struggle in her book ‘Feminist Theory: from margin to center.’ She discusses the hierarchy of men and women while also discussing race. She claims that the history of the feminist movement has not wanted to “acknowledge that bourgeois white women, though often victimized by sexism, have more
The identities have tended to be divided into some different categories, such as gender, race, and class, and these sources have been judged in the different ways. In other words, the different determinant factors of the individuality have been considered separately, and these components have been regarded as a unrelated simple category. Under these points of view, however, it is hard to recognize the problems of interrelated individual component of the identity. Thus, to solve the disregarding crossover point, the new theory of the “intersectionality” are essential. This essay explores the key definition of the “intersectionality” from the viewpoint of gender studies, and how the concept is connected with the social system and individual identity
Kimberle Crenshaw is an African American feminist who introduced the theory of intersectionality. According to the text book, intersectionality “takes the position that race and gender, as well as class, and similar sociodemographic variables are mutually constructing systems of power.” (Cockerham.) Intersectionality is usually used towards women and is identified as the comprehension of how overlapping characteristics or identities impact discrimination.
Law is a tool, a tool of resistance, power, or even oppression. In many women’s experience with the law, the law exists as a tool of oppression. Internationally, across many states like Ohio itself, a husband can legally rape his wife if his wife is subdued by drugs, or any substance that lesser her chances of resistance and encourages consent (Allen, 2015). Across many legal institutions, and systems a woman suffers from discrimination or oppression due to her ‘multiple identities’ (Lockhart & Mitchell, 2010). Legal institutions and their processes overlook and ignore the experiences of people, in particular women who are subjected to dimensions of “race, class, gender and sexuality… in relation to their struggle against racial, sexual, sexual orientation and class oppression” (Lockhart & Mitchell, 2010). Law and legal processes hardly examine other characteristics of women because these institutions are centred on “objectivity and universalism” (Marchetti, 2008); only one characteristic or experience is examined to determine the outcome of a case. The objective of this essay is to explore the intersectionality of women and how it has come to be the forefront battle for equal rights for women. This essay will also look into how and why legal processes and law centre their
For this keyword revision project, I selected the terms “other,” “intersectionality,” and “ideology.” These three keywords each represents a significant sector when analyzing racialization. To my understanding, “other” is the root, “intersectionality” is the mechanism, and “ideology” is the ground for racial formation. Each of these terms is interconnected to each other as well as other big concepts in relation to racialization. Trying to pinpoint the interconnectedness of my keywords, there’s a generalized explanation reflecting on the phenomenon of racial formation: the rise of fixed social norms with a particular “ideology” carries out hegemonic dominance over the “others” and various occurrences of “intersectionality” also breed out different
Multiracial feminism recognizes the need for coalition politics. The autonomous women of color feminist organizations share similar goals, and they realize there is strength in numbers. While creating autonomous groups allows Blacks, Latinas, Native American, and Asian women to focus solely on the oppressions they individually face, they are aware that they share problems with racism, sexism, and classism. Most minority groups are targeted by the government and live in low income households. Along with receiving support from other minority groups they also receive support from militant antiracist white feminists as well. An idea multiracial feminism expanded on was the phrase “Personal is Political”, which means issues that seem personal (abortion, abuse, employment, etc.) are actually political issues (Thompson, 59). Multiracial feminism made the point to expand on that phrase and according to Anne Braden, expand it to “The Personal is Political and The Political is Personal” (Thompson, 59). This expansion of the phrase is important to the antiracist white supporters of women of color. It lets them know that racism, and oppression only women of color face does not mean white women cannot be aware of it and speak out against it. It made the point that a person does not need to directly experience the oppression in order to know it is not right. This allows an
Modern feminism pins gender as a main component of patriarchal society. As a result, modern trans-exclusive feminism blames transgender people for sustaining patriarchy by reinforcing the structure of gender. Cathy Brennan, head of the Gender Identity Watch, takes this position to possibly its furthest point, arguing, “the foundation of the entire “Transgender Rights Movement” is based on violence against women, censorship of women, and the elimination of the Human Rights of women” (“Transgender Ghouls for Suicide and Death”). The blog and organization Gender Identity Watch is a self-described tracker of legislation attempting to override protections based on sex by writing gender identity into law. A great deal of the organization’s actions fall directly in line with the mantra of its leader and avid fans; trans-exclusive feminists see transwomen as threatening female solidarity and using “weapons like the term “cisprivilege” to...offend born-females” (“The insanity of the term
In intersectional feminism, there are multiple layers to it—supporting men and women—regardless of race, class, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Past feminisms are considered to be enormously centered around white, middle class, abled-bodied women but now in the 21st century, issues surrounding women of color have become more of the feminist ideals (Vidal, 2014). Now, most feminist ideals are also surrounded around LGBT rights and some are even intermixed. LGBT rights have become intermixed due to city becoming more liberal, and acknowledging that issues affecting members of the LGBT community clearly affect men and women in the community of feminism (Lam, 2014). As well as LGBT issues being involved in today’s feminism, groups such as Black Lives Matter have also being engulfed by today’s intersectional feminism. Black Lives Matter focusing on issues such as the mass incarceration of people in the black community as well as police brutality, and the outrageously high number of black transgender women being slaughtered (Topps,
Even with disconnected threads of thought the fabric of feminism connects those threads together. There may be some resistance at first but things should work out in the end. Intersectionality is the study of how issues such as race, class, and gender can be connected in some way and solved or at least considered. The road to equality is quite long but lets not forget to help those on the side.
Beginning in the late nineteenth century, feminism has had a strong influence on the functioning of society, at individual, group and political levels. Defined as the “belief in the social, economic and political equality of the sexes”, feminism aims to contest the patriarchal society. However, in recent years, feminism has adopted a broader definition embracing intersectionality as a basis for social change. First used in 1989 by American Civil Rights Advocate Kimberlé Crenshaw, intersectionality describes the interrelation between different forms of discrimination including but not limited to: gender, race, sexuality and socioeconomic status. Third wave feminists aim to extend feminism beyond the realm of white, middle-class, heterosexual
Currently, Feminist theory does not solely focus on the liberation of girls and women, or the promotion of female superiority over their male counterparts. In reality, it illuminates the injustice, inequality, and oppression of not only women but also the disadvantaged (Crossman, 2017). Previously, all social theories considered experiences through the thoughts of men. The acknowledgement of feminist theories has allowed social frameworks to adopt a more creative and inclusive approach that considers all genders and groups (sexuality, race, ability, etc.) equally (Crossman, 2017). Feminist Practice is currently defined as aspiring to alter the societal structures of female oppression and claim power by gaining self-efficacy, self-esteem, and
From its beginning in the late nineteenth century, feminism has had a strong influence on the functioning of society, at individual, group and political levels. Defined as the “belief in the social, economic and political equality of the sexes”, feminism aims to contest the patriarchal society. However, in recent years, feminism has adopted a broader definition embracing intersectionality as a basis for social change. First used in 1989 by American Civil Rights Advocate Kimberlé Crenshaw, intersectionality describes the interrelation between different forms of discrimination including but not limited to: gender, race, sexuality and socioeconomic status. Third wave feminists aim to extend feminism beyond the realm of white, middle-class, heterosexual
It has emerged as the primacy theoretical tool designed to combat feminist hierarchy, hegemony, and exclusivity. Leslie McCall stresses intersectionality’s importance, calling it ‘the most important theoretical contribution in women’s studies, that in conjunction with related fields, has made so far’ (McCall 2005). This ‘important theoretical contribution’ has now become the ‘gold standard’ of multidisciplinary approach for analyzing subject’s experiences of both identity and oppression (Nash