Intersectional feminism is a type of feminism that looks at not just gender, but different identities of a person, such as race, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religion, economic status, and more. Instead of looking at people in single categories, it takes all of these into consideration, which stands for the rights of all women (Dastagir). By looking at global ethics through an intersectional feminist lens, we can recognize the prejudice that our society has on women of different backgrounds and overcome it.
First, it must be explained how intersectional feminism is relevant to global ethics. Feminism is not just a western movement, but it is a global phenomenon. Although it is more likely for western women to form women’s organizations to express their feminist views, nonwestern women also participate in feminism by talking
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One example of this is Malala Yousafzai who was denied her education when the Taliban began to control the Swat Valley in Pakistan where she lived. They banned girls from school and in protest Malala wrote about her struggles and wishes for females to get the education they deserve. Her blog and diary entries were seen worldwide to the support and disapproval of many. This went on for a few years until in 2012, Malala was shot in the head by the Taliban, but miraculously survived. She shared her story and the struggles girls from her home country faced, helping many ("Malala Yousafzai - Biographical"). Intersectional feminism NEED TO FINISH
Many western feminists when talking about feminist issues in third world countries, regard
Intersectionality holds that the theories of oppression within society do not act independently of each other, but are interrelated. This creates a system of oppression that reflects the intersection of multiple forms of discrimination. An advantage would be recognizing that all people are at the center of multiple intersections of power, inequality and privilege. They are shaped by their class, race and gender. These categories represent our views of the world and our actions taken, and includes other peoples views of us. No one fits into just one category because we have multiple categories. Within our own identities, we form our opinions of what we constitute as legal or illegal, right or wrong, and necessary or unnecessary.
Feminism can be classified as a means of recognizing the universal oppression of women, and it ultimately aims for equality for both sexes. Intersectionality in feminism works to collaborate different aspects of discrimination in society such as class, race, and sexual orientation etc into an all encompassing idea. The objective of intersectionality is to shed light on everyone who is marginalized in society and disseminate the idea that women who identify with a variety of different groups, deserve to be heard. Cherrie Moraga, a writer, poet and activist who explores how gender, sexuality and race connect to a broader version of feminism, a clear example of intersectionality.
According to the intersectional approach, we need to stop using the term "woman" as a universal category. This is because this term puts women in a box that is much broader than most see it. When using the term "woman," typically, people think of middle-class caucasian women when actually women are not limited to that specific category. We need to view the many intersections that form women
Intersectional oppression does not stop when felons are released from prison. It follows them even after they have served their time. Black people are much less likely to be hired for a job after they are released from, making them more likely to return to crime in order to make money, in fact, many are left with no other choice. Black people and Latinx people are also much more likely to be stopped by the police for “suspicious behavior” than whites, even if a white person had been doing the same thing in the same neighborhood. This makes former prisoners who are people of color much more likely to either become homeless or be arrested once again, trapping them once more in the unjust criminal justice system. Another strike against a former
When talking about either sexuality, race, and gender you cannot leave out the intersectional approach. It talks about the very subject you are trying to focus on. Intersectional approach is the idea of race, gender, class, and sexuality. The experiences of women cannot be explained or understand without this concept. Especially when talking about women of color.
Intersectionality is a feminist philosophy that claims that the classical models of oppression within a society, such as those based on race, gender, religion, sexuality, class, disability, and other markers of difference do not act independent of one another. Instead, these forms of oppression interrelate, based on which markers apply to a given individual. This oppression is considered flexible because anything a person does in our society that does not condone to classic norms is subject to oppression. This could range from oppression based on race to oppression based on how a
Intersectionality theory looks at the larger picture and incorporates many aspects such as gender, race, sexual orientation, class, religion, and education. We usually focus on each individually and never think about how they interact and can negatively effect an individual. Many people face oppression for many different reasons and with this theory we can look at the underlying issues and reasons. This theory is multidimensional and interconnects on many levels. With the elderly population they are already setback because of ageism but when adding other aspects such as race and sexuality we can see why certain individuals face more oppression. With working with a client that is elderly and part of the LGBT community you face more
Although intersectionality started with the experience of the oppression of both race and sexism, over the years other forms of identities and societal oppression has been added on to the definition. Today, other forms of identities such as class and sexual orientation of an individual faces different forms of oppression in our society today. Many queer women today would describe their experience intertwined with sexuality and gender. A Black queer woman’s experience would differ in the case that race would now be included and some would apply if class is applied.
The term ‘intersectionality’ was coined by Kimberle Crenshaw in her essay Mapping the Margins, the term represents the multiple intersections people face when being discriminated against. In the interview, Crenshaw mentioned the DeGraffenreid vs. General Motors case of the group of black women suing the company for racial and gender discrimination, but they lost since racial and gender discrimination were viewed separately in the law. She explains, “The particular challenge in the law was one that was grounded in the fact that anti-discrimination law looks at race and gender separately. The consequence of that is when African American women or any other women of colour experience either compound or overlapping discrimination, the law initially just was not there to come to their defence.” (Crenshaw, 2014) The case is proof that, even in recent decades, women of color are underrepresented in the law. Also, the case informed most of her early work in intersectionality, and why it was crucial for the term to be formally be recognized. She even said it herself, “It’s important to clarify that the term was used to capture the applicability of black feminism to anti-discrimination law" (Crenshaw, 2014) Intersectionality helps give a voice to the experiences of those who are ignored in white feminism- mainstream feminism that caters only to those who are white, middle class, cis-gendered and able-bodied.
Depending on the individual who is pondering around the complexity of “Intersectionality” may cause a dispute of what they believe is the definition. Victoria L. Bromley, the author of Feminisms Matter: Debates, Theories, Activism illustrates a feminist view of how intersectionality is the root of oppression, which is all interconnected to our identity. Bromley, refers to this as “identity markers” this is how we categorize or describe individuals in a society. That being said, identity markers are bias, and not factual, they are used and believed to maintain the status quo. For example, with minimum knowledge, you see a white man on the street who is dressed
Intersectionality according to Patricia Hill Collins is the “theory of the relationship between race, gender and class” (1990), also known as the “matrix of domination” (2000). This matrix shows that there is no one way to understand the complex nature of how gender, race and class inequalities within women’s lives can be separated; for they are intertwined within each other.
The theory of intersectionality has received a widespread of various distinct definitions and usage; it is often unclear of its designed function may be. Intersectionality is defined as “the acknowledgment that different forms of identity-based discrimination can combine to give rise to unique brands of injustice”(Lucas 8). In other words, how the classification of one’s individuality such as gender, race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, and class can intertwine with each other among the social structure. The term was first coined by feminist and civil rights advocate Kimberlé Crenshaw who spoke upon the discrimination and marginalization of black women and how both institutions interconnect with one another. The significance of
There are many interpretations of intersectionality, but without a doubt, the critical theory of intersectionality is based on the understanding that oppressive institutions within society take different forms for specific cultural and social positions of individuals and groups. Among the concerns in the article, Joan Simalchik and Hunter College Women’s and Gender Studies Collective discuss the ways in which intersectionality provides a better understanding of how relations of power and privilege and the intersection of gender and race influence women’s everyday lives.
The taliban completely banned all education for girls in general. (Yousafzai 100) Under a pseudonym, I wrote to the BBC about my anger and wishes for equality. (Yousafzai 104) I was in outrage and not only spoken out for me, but also the girls who were too afraid to. I wrote of the hardships of my life, and I wrote of the proud feeling I got from wearing my school uniform. (Yousafzai 107) We had to leave our homes for awhile since the military was fighting against the taliban, so I had to leave all my school books behind. (Yousafzai 133) After months, the military finally drove out the taliban for away, so I could get to go to school! (Yousafzai 160) Even though I had the chance to go to school now, girls in other towns or with unwilling parents still didn’t get the chance to go. (Yousafzai 173) I continued to protest against these standards publicity, but I my efforts were soon but to a
Feminism, in theory, binds women from all over the world. They come together to protect their rights as equal human beings. For such a long time, men have dominated over women, looking down upon them and perceiving them as lesser beings. Feminism has allowed women from all cultures and races, to come together to fight for their rights. However, nothing is ever as simple as one may hope. Feminism constitutes women from all over the world, making it difficult from time to time to understand and empathize with each other due to different cultures, races and religions. Teresa de Lauretis (2014) says that “the identity as a woman of color is one not given but acquired, attained, and developed out of the specific historical experience”.