What is intersectionality and why is it important?
- Prisha
- Jan 22, 2023
- 3 min read
When talking about gender inequality and the various types of women's rights movements, one will often hear about the importance of "intersectional feminism," especially from women of color. What does this term mean? And how does racism play a role in defining how women of color experience racism?
When trying to find an answer to such a question, there are some basic definitions to keep in mind:
Intersectionality/ Intersectional feminism: The term "intersectionality," when applied to any movement, refers to being able to learn about the overlap of oppressions that marginalized people face as context for whichever specific oppression the movement is battling. For example, "intersectional feminism" is defined as feminism that takes into account how sexism is experienced differently by women of different races, social and economic standings, gender identities, sexualities, etc. It is important to be intersectional when talking about any social issue, as true equality is unachievable without accounting for all the marginalized groups involved.
Womanism: Womanism refers to a type of feminism that focuses on the day-to-day experiences of women of color, especially Black women. This movement differs from feminism slightly in its principles -- it emphasizes the well-being of a group of people as a whole, including men, rather than striving for progress for women, which is the basis of feminism. This term was coined by Alice Walker in 1983.
White Feminism: Contrary to what it may seem like at first glance, this is not the term for white people practicing feminism. This term refers to the types of feminism that overshadow the struggles of women of color and view sexism solely through the lens of upper or middle-class white women. It is important to avoid this sort of feminism and instead strive for intersectionality.
But why? Why is it important to be intersectional?
The reality of the matter is that sexism affects women of various marginalized groups much more harshly and in various different ways in comparison to more privileged women. For example, the sexism that women of color experience differs vastly from the kind that white women experience. One well-known measure of gender inequality, for instance, is that women make 82 cents for every dollar that a man makes. However, this statistic does not take women of color into account. Black women make just 64 cents in comparison to white men, and Hispanic women experience the largest gap, making only 57 cents. This is just one example of how women of color experience sexism differently from white women.
Another way that women of color experience sexism differently is through the hypersexualization that accompanies their experience. Women of color throughout history have been portrayed as more sexually available than their white counterparts. One example of these harmful stereotypes is the "Jezebel" stereotype of Black women. It portrays them as promiscuous temptresses that must be steered clear of. This, in turn, leads to society holding the belief that Black girls need less protection as children, and leads to them being hypersexualized. Similar stereotypes exist for Asian and Latina women. Asian women are portrayed as innocent, and childlike, yet still hypersexual. Latina women are depicted as sensual, exotic, and hotheaded. All in all, these stereotypes lead to victim blaming and fuel rape culture. They offer an "excuse" of sorts for violence against women of color.
As such, it is important to look at the experiences of different marginalized groups when considering a social issue -- the story never just has one true side. It is crucial that we educate ourselves about these multifaceted issues so that we do not fall prey to problematic patterns of thinking such as these.
So remember to use your voice and educate yourself!
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