Stella looks through her companys new diversity report and is troubled to find that a photograph of her features four times in the 6-page document. I ask them to allow approximately 30 minutes to complete: One of the most powerful, influential theories that have helped us to rethink power and identities in recent years is intersectionality theory. You never know what you will learn! Yet it remains a difficult, misunderstood, and sometimes controversial concept. For instance, a black man and a white woman make $0.74 and $0.78 to a white mans dollar, respectively. Nowadays, intersectionality is considered crucial to social equity work. 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. By doing so, we can begin to institute change in a meaningful and long-lasting way that is social justice oriented and people-centered. As black feminist scholar bell hooks argues, intersectionality challenged the notion that gender was the primary factor determining a womans fate. Here at YW Boston, intersectionality is central to the work we do. Activists and community organizations are calling for and participating in more dynamic conversations about the differences in experience among people with different overlapping identities. Well before the term intersectionality was coined, we could still see examples of intersectional activism in the real world. Within this term is an implicit accusation that media doesnt pay the same amount of attention when people with other identity markers go missing. Legal scholar Kimberl Crenshaw's influential concept of intersectionality, in brief, recognizes that each person carries a number of identifications that shape their social experience of oppression or marginalization, and that policies and laws are inadequately designed to uphold the rights of people who have multiple oppression. Ask students to apply Mari Matsudas practice of asking the other question: When I see something that looks racist, I ask, Where is the patriarchy in this? When I see something that looks sexist, I ask, Where is the heterosexism in this? When I see something that looks homophobic, I ask, Where are the class interests in this? Working in coalition forces us to look for both the obvious and non-obvious relationships of domination, helping us to realize that no form of subordination ever stands alone. In this interview, Kimberl Crenshaw also explained how intersectionality does not fetishize victimization, but merely explains how you have access to, or you are denied access to, certain things in life. The Guardian article that explores Damores autism would offer an opportunity for students to discuss the intersecting dynamics of sexism, ableism, and capitalism. All rights reserved. Rather than assuming that a student can be ascribed an identity, consider spending plenty of time getting to know your students, and having them get to know one another through icebreakers, autobiographical collages, and other creative activities. Its designed for elementary school students, but both my undergraduate and postgraduate students appreciate its clarity. We know that everyone reading this has come to follow YW Bostons work from different entry points. It includes the actual slides I use to set expectations with students at the start of the semester, the lecture on hooks concept of the imperialist white supremacist capitalist patriarchy, and the slides you can adapt for the in-class group activity. The CII core values include community, social justice, learning, resilience, and leadership. Graduate Admissions It's a great self-awareness tool. Further, the OE does not provide any funding to the organizations, programs, and resources identified herein and/or through links. document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Non-Profit Web Design and Development by New Media Campaigns. As a result, black gay peoples experiences can be marginalized and not truly understood by health and social care professionals. This talk was presented at an official TEDconference. Explore the narratives of those with different interlocking identities than you. Understanding intersectionality is essential to combatting the interwoven prejudices people face in their daily lives. Ready to jump in? 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. Here, being indigenous (ethnicity) and a woman (gender) intersect as historical markers of discrimination and, once again, people from these two identity categories find themselves statistically disadvantaged. 1500 Illinois St., Golden, CO 80401 This is a coin termed to describe the medias hyperfocus on white women who go missing. Today the basic principles of intersectionality are widely acceptedeven by critics of the termand the concept has expanded to acknowledge a wider array of identity factors, including citizenship status, indigeneity, age, spirituality or religious affiliation, and socioeconomic status or class. permission only. How do you explain what it means today? For example, it was used as an argument against gay hate crime laws. Check out our facilitator guide to help you have a successful first go. The Center for Identity and Inclusion (CII), based in the downtown campus, supports underrepresented students and promotes a diverse and inclusive campus. This will allow us to expose the inequities inhistory,policies, structures,and lived realities marginalized persons have and continue to endure. 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. Warner, & Brown. Learn more about our academic and editorial standards. The New Press.Nash, J. C. (2008). We get it. Intersectionality is a framework for conceptualizing a person, group of people, or social problem as affected by a number of discriminations and disadvantages. Harassment in the Workplace: What Should You Do? This intersectional experience of facing racism in the feminist movement and sexism in civil rights encouraged black women to call for a feminist practice that centralized their lived experiences. For example, at home a person may feel more closely connected to his identity as a father; at work, that same person may feel a closer connection to his position as a biologist. The Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (ODEI)offers services, resources, and guidance to enhance diversity university-wide and foster a culture of equity and inclusionfor the CU Denver Campus. Intersectionality refers to the interplayofonesidentities, the status ofthoseidentities, and the situational context ofhow, when, and wherethose identitiesshow up and influence personal experience(s) within multiple dimensions of societal oppression. Intersectional feminism is an intellectual and political movement that identifies and challenges the ways interlocking systems of gender, sexual, racial, colonial, class, and dis/ability oppression impact social life. As you hear about issues othersface, learn about the work that is currently being done around these topics. Baggs used social media at a time when people of her gender and people of her disability found it hard to get their voice out there. Intersection Identity and Privilege: Crossing the Line Recap and Closing Activity Closing and Recommended Resources Introduction This toolkit is meant for anyone who feels there is a lack of productive discourse around issues of diversity and the role of identity in social relationships, both on a micro (individual) and macro (communal) level. The term WASP stands for white Anglo-Saxon protestant. 'Intersectionality' refers to the ways in which different aspects of a person's identity can expose them to overlapping forms of discrimination and marginalisation. Crenshaw explains that our identities are like traffic flowing at an intersection one identity may flow in one direction while another identity is flowing in a different direction (Crenshaw, 1989). The Oxford Handbook of Feminist Theory. He holds a PhD in education and has published over 20 articles in scholarly journals. Learn more about our academic and editorial standards. We ask that any redistribution or reproduction of content is credited appropriately to the creators of the content, and if applicable, credited to any scholars or outside resources that were acknowledged and cited in adapted content. The OE and its employees do not make any warranty, expressed or implied, nor assume any liability for the services provided by any entity, program or resource identified on this site or through links from this site. Below is an excerpt from the interview. Both groups lost their cases. The class should be encouraged to offer additional observations and considerations. It takes into account peoples overlapping identities and experiences in order to understand the complexity of prejudices they face. My teaching philosophy follows an approach known as critical pedagogy a learner-centered approach that aims to empower students towards positive social impact. When a group does not know each other well, it may be difficult for people to start talking. The classroom, with all its limitations, remains a location of possibility. So, her products subverted the norm and was designed directly for women of color. Intersectionality. For my subjects, I like to use bell hooks theory of the imperialist white supremacist capitalist patriarchy. Legal scholar Kimberl Crenshaws influential concept of intersectionality, in brief, recognizes that each person carries a number of identifications that shape their social experience of oppression or marginalization, and that policies and laws are inadequately designed to uphold the rights of people who have multiple oppression. In an era when women and people of color were excluded from public discourse, Parks took a stance and insisted on her fundamental rights. For example, in the first case above about Stella, the obvious issue is racism, but students should be able to consider how patriarchy, imperialism, and capitalism plays a role. Intersectionality was the first of three FAS Diversity Dialogues for the academic year. What are Gender Pronouns? Farm To Table: Does It Matter What We Eat? Ill print out a copy of each case to distribute to the student groups. All the advice on this site is general in nature. Examples of Intersectionality. IdentityIntersectionalityIntersectX12, 201 PRESIDENTS CIRCLE, ROOM 208 Since then, the study of intersectionality has grown to include all of our intersections and identities. Try an Inclusion Icebreaker! (2013). Translating this into practice might mean designing ways for students to articulate to themselves and others their intersecting identities, and explaining to students why this is important, namely that it helps establish community and may mitigate stereotyping based on racial, ethnic, gendered, and other kinds of stereotypes, increasing the quality of communication so that learning can happen. It's not simply that there's a race problem here, a gender problem here, and a class or LBGTQ problem there. She longs to be a cat mom again someday. Crenshaw expanded on the Collectives theory, stating that in order to understand the oppression of black women, it is necessary to look at the intersection of blackness and womanhood. While this Venn diagram was created in the context of business organizations, it may be useful to prompt a reflection. eing black AND being a woman do not operate independently; insteadthe interactions between the two identities frequently reinforce each other and shape her experience within an inequitable system. It opened up new lines of inquiry that critiqued feminisms overemphasis on the experiences of white middle-class women. Intersectionality is a concept that describes the ways systems of inequality intersect to create unique effects and dynamics. She highlighted how most cosmetics were made for white skin. 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. I invite them to honor any feelings of anxiety, discomfort, guilt, and anger that may surface, and embrace them as signs of learning and growth, rather than believe it means the topic is bad or wrong. Whats Next? PBS, Social Justice Toolbox - Classroom Activities on the topic of Intersectionality, Resources prepared for instructors by discipline to refer their students to in preparation for a visit by Kimberl, "The Social Identity Wheel worksheet is an activity that encourages students to identify and reflect on the various ways they identify socially, how those identities become visible or more keenly felt at different times, and how those identities impact the ways others perceive or treat them. Do you want to submit a guest blog? Calendar Parents Ive used more serious academic videos about intersectionality theory in the past but they did leave some students even more confused. Each group will randomly receive one of the cases. Its all a crisis over a sense that things might actually have to change for equality to be real.". Applying intersectionality theory to an analysis of your experiences, you will be able to understand how your own intersecting privileges and oppressions have an impact on your identity and your relations with others. 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! 303-273-3000 / 800-446-9488, Admissions & Financial Aid Studentsshould always cross-check any information on this site with their course teacher. Intersectionality refers to the overlap, or intersection, of various identity factors such as race, ethnicity, social class, nationality, gender, sexuality, and ability. Why Are We Honoring Coretta Scott King on MLK Day? Becoming comfortable recognizing difference also involves recognizing when that difference is not represented in the spaces you occupy. To be clear, social identitiesare not the focus of intersectionality; yes they shape your experience and influence what intersectionality means to you. Intersectionality is a tool that allows us to think about systemic oppression in a broad context and emphasizes individual's experiences in an effort to understand privilege and power. For clarification on your employee status, consult the. The CU Anschutz Central Office for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Community Engagement (ODEICE) focuses on implementing, centralizing and improving programs and initiatives around diversity and health equity; inclusion and outreach; and community engagement. Black women, who often had to work in order to keep their family afloat and therefore did not have the luxury of being homemakers, did not feel as though these issues pertained to their experiences. Whats often missing is how some people are subject to all of these, and the experience is not just the sum of its parts.". This is education as the practice of freedom. CU Denver and Auraria Campus are CLOSED on Wednesday - January 18, 2023. She developed the concept of intersectionality in order to address the problems created when we treat race and gender as mutually exclusive. Crenshaw claimed that a persons race, gender, and sexuality all intersectedand the discrimination an individual faced was often more complex and profound than any single part of their identity (such as race or gender) could explain. As a Black woman who migrated from Zimbabwe, she has always stood out at her company. Schedule A opens the door for legally blind sports guy turned science-writer. The content provided in these guides serve as a starting point for you to begin laying the foundations of your DEI learning. Undergraduate Student Government, Arthur Lakes Library The missing white woman syndrome was on full display during the 2021 Gabby Petito case. and the unique privileges and oppressions individuals may experience where those identities overlap. Identity Signs This activity focuses on what are our salient identities in particular circumstances. Listen to women share their thoughts on intersectionality here and here. Neighbors The Diversity Dialogues are free . This activity helps participant investigate privilege by inviting them to identify what privileges they find personally important. Feminist review, 89(1), 1-15. The Safe Zone Project is a free online resource for powerful, effective LGBTQ awareness and ally training workshops, Join over 25,000 Educators in 100 Countries.

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