Intersectionality. It’s a term that has unfortunately turned into a social justice “buzzword” but it’s actually a concept that is extremely important. People with varying experiences have different experience that deal with the same issue. For example, as a black women I experience sexism differently than white women, Asian women, or Hispanic women (and they all have distinct experiences as well).
A great example of a lack of intersectionality is exemplified in the [now deleted] tweet by actress Rose Mcgowan about James Cordon’s Harvey Weinstein joke. The issue here is that Mcgowan doesn’t take into account that there are many women who don’t have to imagine replacing the “women” with the “n-word.” I understand that sometimes its difficult to consider experiences that you may have had but by trying to equate these experiences ignores those who have both of these issues and deal with them at the same time.
It was deleted but here it is pic.twitter.com/oAyGJB4tG6
— Lynn (@lynnv378) October 15, 2017
But that doesn’t mean black people don’t have issues handling intersectionality. For example, the way some black men turned on Jemele Hill for tweeting this article which is essentially an article about straight black men struggling to be intersectional (and was written by a black men). Often, at least in my experience, black people don’t have an interest in listening to what black women are struggling with and experiencing. And any critique is met with a “you hate black men” or “you’re trying to bring us down.” Responses like these exemplify why movements must be intersectional. If you are only interested in the liberation of those like you then everyone else will be just as oppressed while you ascend to a new level.
It’s important to be intersectional. Acknowledging the various experiences of people who may come from different backgrounds is important. I’m speaking from my own experiences as a black woman because I don’t feel like its my place to discuss where we lack intersectionality when it comes to people who are LGBT or disabled. But we must improve as a world with including those with intersecting experiences because without intersectionality no one will truly be free.
No Comments “Are You Intersectional?”
This is my kind of blog! Anyway I struggle with intersectional support for a couple of reasons. 1. I do not believe Black women and Black people period get the same support that we give everyone else. 2. Other social issues and categories seem to put historically Black issues in the shadows, often leaving the deep rooted issues unaddressed and swept under the rug!
I once wrote a FB post about how many Black men don’t listen to the problems that Black women have. I noted that they should listen to us as we listen to them without interjecting their problems on us while we’re trying to express ourselves with them. Some ppl understood what I was saying and the rest said I was man bashing! Smh
Girl same on both of these thanks so much for sharing
Funnily enough, this is the first I’m hearing of the term with this mean but I think I can say that I am intersectional, it doesn’t seem right from an ethical standpoint to be anything less. Thanks for sharing!
I definitely am an intersectional. I tune out every one though. Can have my peace peace me because they weren’t raised right.
I believe I can say I’m intersectional,
Great way of explaining it!
Thanks for shedding light on this buzzword. I enjoyed the article!
Thanks for reading!
I have read your article but honestly have to get some more information on the intersectionality before I can give my own opinion. What I will say is that people do come from all different backgrounds and experiences and we do have to both respectful and cognizant of it.
Yes. Mysogynoir is such a big issue in our community. I hope that soon our men will be more willing to listen let along take action.
https://www.elaishajade.com/
Thanks for shedding light on this and giving examples. I need to look more into it.
My intersectional struggle is real. I’m black, Latina, a woman, and dont’ have class privilege (atm but that’ll change cause I’m stacking my coins), but people truly don’t know how to be intersectional. They want to put us into neat boxes. The more identifiers we have, the more complicated the lazies see us. They need to befriend google and put in the work.
Love it, Syd!!! Keep on writing. I’m waiting for that novel release