Module 1: Socialization & Identity
Part 5: Intersections & Identities
As we have seen in the previous activities, identity is complex. Even though race is a biological illusion, it has real meaning in social contexts. Race and other categories of identity may be social constructs, but these ideas still apply to identity. Furthermore, different categories of identity can overlap and intertwine to create unique experiences for each individual. This secion explores the idea of intersectionality.
Suggested Goals:
1. To understand the idea of intersectionality and its impact on identity.
2. To relate intersectionality to work with students.
3. To relate intersectionality to understanding antiracist work.
Suggested Goals:
1. To understand the idea of intersectionality and its impact on identity.
2. To relate intersectionality to work with students.
3. To relate intersectionality to understanding antiracist work.
&1: Intersectionality
Identity is complex. It is rare that a single factor determines identity in any context. One way to explore the complexities of identity is to consider intersectionality. Intersectionality looks at how categories or pieces of identity overlap and the interplay of factors that may result in discrimination and oppression or privilege.
Intersectionality was introduced by Kimberlé Crenshaw (more on her work below) as a means of explaining the oppression of Black women. However, intersectionality has evolved beyond just gender and race. Intersectionality may include categories such as the following:
Intersectionality may apply to an individual as each person has a unique set of circumstances. However, there may be times when intersectionality can be applied to a group.
To learn more about the basics of intersectionality, explore the “Intersectionality Self-Study Guide” from Washington University in St. Louis. The video embedded in the guide provides an overview of intersectionality. The guide also provides links to other resources to help you learn more about intersectionality.
Read/Watch/Explore:
Intersectionality Self-Study Guide
https://students.wustl.edu/intersectionality-self-study-guide/
Intersectionality was introduced by Kimberlé Crenshaw (more on her work below) as a means of explaining the oppression of Black women. However, intersectionality has evolved beyond just gender and race. Intersectionality may include categories such as the following:
- Race
- Ethnicity
- Gender
- Sexuality
- LGBTQ+
- Citizenship (or lack of)
- Native or Immigrant status
- Refugee status
- Native or Non-native Speaker
- Class or Socioeconomic status
- (Dis)ability
- And more.
Intersectionality may apply to an individual as each person has a unique set of circumstances. However, there may be times when intersectionality can be applied to a group.
To learn more about the basics of intersectionality, explore the “Intersectionality Self-Study Guide” from Washington University in St. Louis. The video embedded in the guide provides an overview of intersectionality. The guide also provides links to other resources to help you learn more about intersectionality.
Read/Watch/Explore:
Intersectionality Self-Study Guide
https://students.wustl.edu/intersectionality-self-study-guide/
Read/Watch:
Intersectionality: How Gender Interacts With Other Social Identities To Shape Bias
https://theconversation.com/intersectionality-how-gender-interacts-with-other-social-identities-to-shape-bias-5372
Watch:
The Danger of a Single Story
https://www.ted.com/talks/chimamanda_ngozi_adichie_the_danger_of_a_single_story
Read/Listen:
For LGBTQ People of Color, Discrimination Compounds
https://www.npr.org/2017/11/25/564887796/for-lgbtq-people-of-color-discrimination-compounds
Reflect:
- Can you identify intersections in your own identity?
- How does intersectionality play a role in each person having their own, unique stories?
- Why should intersectionality be considered when thinking about both identity and racism (or discrimination and oppression)?
Intersectionality is not as simple as layering impacts based on the intersections of components of identity. Intersectionality results in interactions of categories of identities that create varied experiences. For example, Dr. Crenshaw found that Black women experienced racism that was different from racism experienced by Black men. You can learn more about this in the article linked below.
Read:
What Is Intersectionality and Why Is It Important?
https://www.aaup.org/article/what-intersectionality-and-why-it-important#.XzNrfOhKhPY
Resources from Kimberlé Crenshaw are included below.
Read:
Kimberlé Crenshaw on Intersectionality, More than Two Decades Later
https://www.law.columbia.edu/news/archive/kimberle-crenshaw-intersectionality-more-two-decades-later
Mapping the Margins (at the link below or in the Google Classroom)
https://www.racialequitytools.org/resourcefiles/mapping-margins.pdf
| mapping-the-margins_intersectionality-identity-politics-and-violence-against-women-of-color.pdf |
Watch:
The Urgency of Intersectionality
https://www.ted.com/talks/kimberle_crenshaw_the_urgency_of_intersectionality?language=en
The Urgency of Intersectionality
https://www.ted.com/talks/kimberle_crenshaw_the_urgency_of_intersectionality?language=en
Moving past just understanding intersectionality, we need to consider how intersectionality can impact the relationships we try to build and the content we try to teach in the classroom. Teaching Tolerance provides a case study that is worthy of reflection.
Read:
Teaching at the Intersections
https://www.learningforjustice.org/magazine/summer-2016/teaching-at-the-intersections
Reflect:
- Why is intersectionality important and urgent?
- How can intersectionality be applicable to relationships with students in the classroom?
- How can intersectionality be applied to working with colleagues?
- How can intersectionality be connected to antiracism?
The next part will review and conclude the module on socialization and identity.
