Intersectionality Explained: What Is Intersectionality?

The term “intersectionality” provides a framework for understanding how different forms of discrimination or inequality compound on each other, resulting in roadblocks that may go unaddressed by conventional social justice advocacy. Historically, social justice and civil rights movements have focused on one form of oppression at a time, such as sexism, racism, or classism. Intersectional theory contends that individuals may be disadvantaged by several forms of oppression simultaneously. For example, some feminist movements focused on improving the livelihoods of young, middle-class, cisgendered white women. This limited range of focus effectively excluded older women, working-class women, Black women and other women of color, and women in the LGBTQ community.

The concept of intersectionality is designed to bring attention to these disparities to improve the lived experiences of women, non-binary people, people of color, and others with intersecting identities. An intersectional lens helps you address experiences of discrimination and inequality without perpetuating the hierarchies created by systems of oppression.

The definition of intersectionality as we understand it today was first introduced in 1989 by critical race theorist, law professor, and legal scholar, Kimberlé Crenshaw. Crenshaw first coined the term in an essay for the University of Chicago Legal Forum titled, "Demarginalizing the Intersection of Race and Sex: A Black Feminist Critique of Anti-discrimination Doctrine, Feminist Theory and Antiracist Politics." In this ground-breaking work, Crenshaw introduced the term in her exploration of the gender and racial discrimination Black women experience in American courts and the workplace. She asserts that Black women's experiences can only be understood by exploring the intersection of both race and gender identity; any attempt to separate the two falls short of properly understanding the experience of Black American women. Crenshaw has theorized that an intersectional analysis of social hierarchies is a necessary part of eliminating power imbalances altogether.

Sociologist Patricia Hill Collins has since identified ideas reminiscent of intersectional theory in early writings by Latinx, Indigenous, Asian American, and Black feminists. Among these early influencers were Audre Lorde, Angela Davis, and Gloria E. Anzaldua. Since the introduction of the term in the early 1990s, intersectional feminism has gained popularity among women's rights activists. It has inspired progress in the realm of social science as well. Intersectional research explores the impact of social hierarchy and inequality as it pertains to race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, age, ability, class, and more.

Intersectionality is more than just a theory, it's a lens with which to approach many aspects of social life. Consider a few examples of how to put the intersectional approach into practice.

• Recognize your own social identity. We all have various social identities that provide us with advantages and disadvantages. For example, the lived experience of a Black woman varies greatly from that of a white woman, Black man, or white man. Intersectionality provides us with a lens for recognizing how our intersecting identities play a significant role in our lived experiences.
• Actively reject stereotypes. Intersectional research reveals that we all embody more than one social identity. The oversimplification of groups of people is harmful and often places minority groups at an increased disadvantage. Before making an assumption about anyone's lived experience, consider that they may possess a social identity you're unaware of.
• Seek out new perspectives. When presented with a point of view that feels foreign or confusing, seek a greater understanding of that perspective before making judgments. Many books, podcasts, and other resources can help shed light on a wide array of unique experiences.
• Engage in activism. Once you've learned about the social impacts of intersectional identities, be an agent for change. Consider attending rallies, writing to your representatives, or signing petitions to help place pressure on government officials to adopt human rights initiatives that promote a more equitable society.

There’s a lot of information that history textbooks don’t cover, including the ways in which systems of inequality continue to impact everyday life. With the MasterClass Annual Membership, get access to exclusive lessons from Angela Davis, Dr. Cornel West, Jelani Cobb, John McWhorter, Kimberlé Crenshaw, Nikole Hannah-Jones, and Sherrilyn Ifill to learn about the forces that have influenced race in the United States.