What is Intersectionality?
KimberlĂ© Crenshaw coined the term stating that it is a framework for conceptualizing a person, group of people, or social problem as affected by several discriminations and disadvantages. It considers people’s overlapping identities and experiences in order to understand the complexity of prejudices they face.
Let’s do some mapping!
- Draw a stick figure of yourself
- List the following dimensions of your identity
- Race
- Ethnic background
- Language background
- Socio economic class now
- Socio economic class when you were growing up
- Gender
- Sexuality
- Age
- Ability Status
- Education background
- Major
- Introvert/Extrovert
- Parental Status
- Marital Status
- Religious background/Spirituality
- Citizenship Status
- Military background
- Political Ideology
- If you are a
- Sibling
- Sister/brother
- Cousin
- Parent
- Aunt
- Grandparent
- Great grandparent
- Job Title
- List 3 other things that you use as an identifier
After listing all of these around your person, think about the following.
- What are 3 things you think about every day without anyone asking you?
- What are 3 things that you are surprised with/don’t think about often?Â
- Why is it important to know these?
- How would they affect your outlook on life?
- How do they affect you in your job? In your family? In your organization?
Semehar Ghebrekidan is the Community Inclusion Liaison for the City of Sioux City. She is charged with Inclusion efforts to help connect the City and the community. Semehar has her master’s degree from South Dakota State University in Sociology and her bachelors in Global Studies with minors in Spanish and Leadership & Nonprofit Management. When she is not working, you can catch her cooking, reorganizing her home and hanging out with her family and friends.Â