2022 Equity Challenge Day 11: Intersectionality: Our Identities and Our Lived Experience

There is no such thing as a single-issue struggle because we do not live single-issue lives.

Audre Lorde

Writer, activist and feminist
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Intersectionality considers the impact of our overlapping and intersecting social identities and acknowledges the compounding nature of oppression that occurs when an individual or group experiences multiple marginalized social identities. For instance, intersectionality brings to light the differences in experience between white women and women of color, and challenges us to examine these differences as the result of systematic oppression. Kimberlé Crenshaw coined the term in 1989 to explain how Black women faced specific discrimination related to both being Black and being a woman.

The framework of intersectionality is critical to social justice work and the fostering of an equitable society. By looking through the lens of intersectionality we can broaden our perspectives, acknowledge experiences outside our own, and invite the reality that our individual points of view are inherently impacted by our social identities.

TODAY’S CHALLENGE

Read

  • Read this article profiling Kimberlé Crenshaw and learn more about how our different identities shape our unique experiences (10 minutes).

Watch

  • Watch this video for more information on the idea of Intersectionality (2.5 minutes). And here is another video geared toward young people (3 minutes).
  • Watch this TED Talk from Kimberlé Crenshaw, where she discusses intersectionality and violence against black women. (Content warning: discussion and graphic images of police brutality) (15 minutes).

Listen

  • Listen to this podcast on how COVID-19 is revealing intersectional vulnerabilities and gaps in our systems (1 hour).

Reflect And Share

  1. If you have heard the term intersectionality before, how have you heard it used? How have today’s resources informed your understanding of the concept?
  2. Reflect on the different identities you hold. How do these identities intersect? What intersections give you more privilege? What intersections create marginalization?
  3. How do you see intersectionality relating to the people in your life/the people in your community?
  4. What questions do you still have about intersectionality? What are ways you can further explore these questions?

TALK TO YOUR SOCIAL CIRCLE.

Start the conversation. Send the tweet. Share your story. Make the Facebook post. Sharing what you learn and experience with your family, friends, and co-workers is the first step toward allyship.

Join thousands in conversation by using hastag #EquityChallenge or #TakeTheEC22