Your Intersectionality Makes You Unique

Kimberlé Crenshaw coined the term “intersectionality” for the first time in 1989, when she published a paper in the University of Chicago Legal Forum titled “Demarginalizing the Intersection of Race and Sex.” In her paper, she argued that anti-discrimination laws did not protect Black women because those laws viewed Black women under one single identity, which was typically viewed from the perspective of being a woman. This is problematic due to Black woman’s experience NOT being the same as a white woman’s experience. This is why discrimination can be viewed and/or experienced differently despite a Black woman and a white woman being the same gender. She also argued that anti-discrimination laws excluded Black women from feminist and antiracist policy discussions due to Black women being the disadvantaged within BOTH gender and race categories. White women were more privileged within the gender category and Black men were more privileged within the race category. 

Everybody has their own unique experience with oppression and privilege. Just because you are a Black male does NOT mean you can relate to ALL Black men. For example, you may be heterosexual while the other Black male may be part of LGBTQ+ community. Although you share the same race and gender, the difference in sexual orientation is what changes the day-to-day experience between you and the other man. Psych Me Out challenges you to not only recognize your visible AND invisible privileges but also LISTEN and understand the experiences of others.

So What is Intersectionality?

It is important to know that you have a wide variety of identities whether you realize it or not. A person can be privileged in one identity and oppressed in another. Intersectionality is essentially how various identities “intersect” to create unique patterns of oppression.

The ADDRESSING model was created by Pamela Hays and is now used to help us understand the interplay between various identities. She believed that the combination of one’s age, developmental disabilities, acquired disabilities, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, indigenous group membership, nationality, and gender provide a full understanding of one’s identity.

Here are some other ways in which you can identify.

Inner Ring

• Traits that are more permanent or observable

• May cause greater discomfort when discussing

• Have less control over these

Outer Ring

• Traits acquired over time

• May be more influenced by others/systems

• Not as easily observed