Word of the Week

intersectionality

in-ter-sek-shuh-nal-i-tee
noun
how multiple identities, like race, gender, and class, fit together and impact how a person experiences power, privilege, and oppression in their everyday lives

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In Context

American lawyer and civil rights activist Kimberlé Crenshaw first coined the term, “intersectionality” to describe the experiences of Black women. Crenshaw argued that people must think about race and gender at the same time to understand the experiences of Black women. Intersectionality highlights the importance of understanding all parts of someone’s identity to understand how they experience privilege, power, and oppression.

Kimberlé Crenshaw presenting about intersectionality in Germany in 2018. Source: Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung.