Understanding intersectionality: embracing the complexity of identity

Imagine a mentorship program for early-career researchers that prioritizes professional development but fails to address the unique challenges faced by an international participant with an invisible disability. These challenges might include difficulty accessing facilities, navigating complex healthcare systems, overcoming linguistic and cultural barriers, or dealing with assumptions and misunderstandings from colleagues about their condition. These aspects create inequities, leaving the person unsupported compared to their peers. The person’s obstacles are not solely about being international, living with a disability, or even balancing caregiving responsibilities. Instead, they arise from how these identities intersect, compounding challenges and creating unique barriers.

This is intersectionality in action—a concept introduced by Kimberlé Crenshaw in 1989. It reveals how overlapping aspects of identity, such as ethnicity, gender, class, and sexual orientation, interconnect to create distinct experiences of privilege or discrimination. These intersections shape our lived experiences in nuanced and often complex ways. Yet, intersectionality does not simply refer to multiple forms of discrimination; rather, it highlights how the interdependence of differences and their societal implications gives rise to distinct forms of exclusion.

In academia, intersectionality is essential for ensuring that diversity initiatives reflect the multifaceted realities of individuals. Overlooking these intersections undermines the effectiveness of diversity efforts, as Crenshaw notes (Mapping the Margins, 1991). This oversight risks to create policies and practices that treat identities in isolation and exclude those facing compounded disadvantages, failing to serve underrepresented groups adequately. By adopting an intersectional lens, academic institutions can better address the unique challenges faced by students, faculty, and staff from diverse backgrounds.

How Can Individuals Address Intersectionality?

• Learn: Educate yourself about intersectionality by exploring foundational works, or attending relevant seminars or workshops.
• Listen and Empathize: Actively listen to and validate the experiences of individuals facing overlapping forms of discrimination or challenges. Practice empathy by trying to understand and connect with others’ realities, especially for individuals whose challenges may not be immediately visible.
• Advocate: Support and promote inclusive policies that acknowledge and address intersecting identities. Use your knowledge to advocate for meaningful and comprehensive changes.

As we’ve mentioned in a previous impulse, intersectionality is also closely related to allyship: by addressing, as allies, overlapping patterns of exclusion related to race, gender, sexuality, and ability or disability, we can ensure no one feels overlooked.

By integrating intersectionality into institutional diversity efforts, academia can foster a more equitable and inclusive environment that embraces the complexity of human identity.

References:

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2. Bailey, A. (2009). On Intersectionality, Empathy, and Feminist Solidarity: A Reply to Naomi Zack. Journal for Peace and Justice Studies, 19(1), 14–36.
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6.  Crenshaw, K. (1989). Demarginalizing the Intersection of Race and Sex: A Black Feminist Critique of Antidiscrimination Doctrine, Feminist Theory and Antiracist Politics. University of Chicago Legal Forum, 1989(1), Article 8.
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10. Johns, S., & Hawkes, S. (2020). A Look at Empathy, University Belonging, and Intersectionality: How to Support a Diverse Student Body amid the COVID-19 Crisis. Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies in Education, 9(2), 10–13.
11. Nash, J. C. (2008). Re-thinking Intersectionality. Feminist Review, 89(1), 1–15.
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