...Madeline Steffey Intersectionality with Kimberle Crenshaw and Gloria Anzaldua Intersectionality can be described as the study of the intersection of different forms of discrimination experienced by individuals who are members of multiple minority groups. For example, a Hispanic woman faces barriers in society not only because she is Hispanic, but also because she is a woman and one could not fully understand her oppression without taking both of these aspects into consideration. Kimberly Crenshaw and Gloria Anzaldua both provide accounts of intersectionality and utilize different approaches in their explanations. I will begin by analyzing their approaches separately, then I will explain how Crenshaw might object to Anzaldua’s account because it does not contain adequate factual evidence or realistic solutions. As a response from Anzaldua to Crenshaw’s objections, I will assert that Anzaldua effectively used personal and cultural experiences to reflect on intersectionality. Throughout her life, Anzaldua felt like she lived within borders. That in order to live and survive, she had to cross borders continuously. This is because multiple aspects of her life typically result in societal discrimination. She is unique in that she is a minority in several ways such as being a mix of Mexican and Anglo-Saxon, as well as being a lesbian. These aspects overlap and intertwine, which results in intersectionality. When crossing borders, one has to adapt to the different norms that are...
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...Intersectionality of Gender Inequality Name: Institution: Intersectionality of Gender Inequality For many decades, women have experienced all forms of oppression and constant violence that threatened their existence in the male-dominated society. Various forms of discrimination and oppression have been directed to women for decades. Violence directed at women such as rape and battery were seen and treated as isolated scenarios. However, as the need to foster gender equality took pace, such oppressive actions are now perceived as elements of a wider system of dominance in the society that that needs to be addressed as a whole rather than in singularity (Crenshaw et al., 2013). Intersectionality is a concept that was developed by Kimberlé Crenshaw to describe the interconnections between oppressive institutions such as sexism and racism and their interaction in propagating discrimination and oppression in the society (Crenshaw et al., 2013). The concept of Intersectionality therefore, argues that, the oppressive institutions in the society cannot be handled separate from each other but rather should be addressed as a system that collectively form a system of oppression in the society. Gender inequality entails unequal treatment of individuals on the basis of their gender (Crenshaw et al., 2013). This form of discrimination has roots in social constructions and cultural norms and values which...
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...The purpose of this essay is to review Kimberle Crenshaw’s 1991 article about the marginalisation of women of colour. The article focuses on how feminism ignores black women’s ethnicity and how antiracist campaigns ignore black women’s gender. This is where the term ‘intersectionality’ arose from. Intersectionality is used to give people experiencing more than one form of oppression the opportunity to identify as both minorities at once instead of each one separately. For example instead of identifying as black and gay and a woman a person is able to identify as a black gay woman. This is intersectionality. As previously mentioned, the main topic of Crenshaw’s article is society’s ignorance of women of colour; both campaigns that could be aimed...
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...The Making of Gendered Violence Caitlin Murray January 29th, 2016 For an act that is considered “taboo” to talk about, violence against women is one of the most prolific violent acts in the world. Because it is so common that a woman will experience violence against them at one point in their lives, the act often goes overlooked by either society or the victim themselves. Media has taught us that violence against women occurs, but because of the way it is portrayed, we often don’t see the real brutality of the act, which can desensitize us. Intersectionality has helped woman strengthen their fight against assaults, but has also ignored the differences between assaults that occur between races. There unfortunately is a difference between the assault of a white woman and the assault of a black woman. This paper will discuss these topics and look at why each of them occurs. The rape or domestic abuse of women has now become a familiar scene in movies and television. But are we actually seeing the assault? Most often we are not. The assault is almost always implied, by showing the woman or girl crying afterwards, in a broken state telling her friends and family what happened. We can even see the victim immediately after the assault occurred. However it is extremely rare for media to film an assault scene (Easteal, 2015). This is because the assault scene is usually "too graphic” and viewers do not want to have to witness such a gruesome act. This not only creates a taboo nature...
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...Intersectionality is now understood as an approach analyzing ways in which social and cultural categories intersect, overlap, interlock and strengthen. At the center of the intersectional analysis there are links between gender, "race", ethnicity, fitness, sexual orientation, class, nationality, etc. Crenshaw described a situation in which people belong to many minority groups at the same time and therefore experience specific, multiple forms of unequal, worse treatment and multiple...
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...gathering of knowledge by the millennials of today and by those who simply want better for themselves and their community. In the article, “Intersectionality” by Christine Emba, the author studies Intersectionality as a feminist term. Intersectionality is at a high demand right now all across the map. To get a better understanding, “The term “intersectionality” was used to describe how different forms of discrimination can interact and overlap, and why it was necessary for feminists to take into account the needs of women from a variety of backgrounds when considering social questions and issues to advocate for” (“Intersectionality,”...
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...with, intersectionality- defined by Kimberle Crenshaw as various identities (race, class, gender, sexuality) facing complex challenges that occur when these identities overlap. I aspire to address the legal inequalities within communities that experience intersectionality. My scholarly and professional experiences have allowed me to further engage with these issues and has driven me to advocate for positive change within intersectional communities. Completing the Bachelor of Arts in English program at Alabama Agricultural & Mechanical University molded my analytical, reasoning,...
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...Crenshaw describes several employment discrimination-based lawsuits to illustrate how Black women’s complaints often fall between the cracks precisely because they are discriminated against both as women and as Blacks. The ruling in one such case, DeGraffenreid v. General Motors, filed by five Black women in 1976, demonstrates this point vividly...
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...on affect also seemed crucial for this course in terms of navigating the relevance of political depression in present times. In light of the discussion on the justice system that I anticipate the class to have during this week, I felt that an introductory course on Women and Gender Studies would not be complete without having a conversation on intersectionality. Therefore, during our seventh week we will be strictly focusing on Kimberlé Williams Crenshaw’s theory of intersectionality. Aside from reading Crenshaw, we will also engage with Jennifer C. Nash’s “Institutionalizing the Margins” and Brittney Cooper’s “Intersectionality.” We will not only study the context and the origins of the theory of intersectionality but will also delve into some of the critiques that have been made about intersectionality. In this sense, Cooper’s text is incredibly valuable in that it provides an overview of the debates...
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...The word was first used by Kimberlé Crenshaw (1989) to describe the marginalization of black women during consideration of separate civil rights and women’s rights movements. The marginalization of individuals belonging to more than one stigmatized group is an important factor to consider when conducting research into discrimination and prejudice, and a focus on the experience of black women specifically is a valuable perspective (Aiken, Salmon, & Hanges, 2013; Rosenthal, 2016). In hindsight, it is clear that rights movements in the United States evolved alongside each other (Aiken et al., 2013). One of the earliest examples of this would be the fact that early calls for women’s suffrage were inspired by the abolitionist movement gaining ground in the late 1800’s (Aiken et al...
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...manipulating, controlling and attempting to transcend nature” (Mcguire 4). This is why Ecofeminists are committed to challenging all hierarchies, oppressions, and dualistic thinking that empowers patriarchy, and deems “Otherness” as inferior. It is through this feminist theory I would like to analyze the destructive power of Monsanto, the largest agricultural corporation in the United States, has in the Unites States particularly in the farm industry, the effect they created in the food supply, and their effect as a global corporation. In order to analyze the impact of Monsanto, a feminist lens of intersectionality is needed to see how the genetically modified seeds created by Monsanto lead to their domination of the nature and humans. According to Kimberle Crenshaw, “...any analysis that does not take intersectionality into account cannot sufficiently address the particular manner” (58). Crenshaw argues that an experience is greater than a sum of two factors, and instead that the experience is unique due to these factors. In the case of Monsanto, I will analyze the unique effects this corporation has created in their quest to maximize their profits. Capitalism drives our patriarchal society to do what those in charge deem necessary to gain profit. Gloria Anzaldua states, “White America has only attended to the body of the earth in order to exploit it, never to succor it or to be nurtured in it” (90). She shows that the White Americans who are at the head of the patriarchy exploit...
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...Jerosemin B. Gamboa ZSC 111 - 2ET Assignment: Give some proponents of sociology and their important contributions. Era/ Years | Proponent | Contribution | 1798 - 1857 | Comte, Auguste | August Comte is known as the founder of positivism and is credited with coininging the term sociology. Comte helped shape and expand the field of sociology and placed a great deal of emphasis in his work on systematic observation and social order. | 1818 – 1883 | Marx, Karl | Karl Marx is one of the most famous figures in the founding of sociology. He is known for his theory of historical materialism, which focuses on the way social order, like class structure and hierarchy, emerges out of the economic system of a society. He theorized this relationship as a dialectic between thebase and superstructure of society. Some of his notable works, like "The Manifesto of the Communist Party," were co-written with Friedrich Engels. Much of his theory is contained in the series of volumes titledCapital. Marx has been described as one of the most influential figures in human history, and in a 1999 BBC poll was voted the "thinker of the millennium" by people from around the world. | 1858 - 1917 | Durkheim, Émile | Social Fact, AnomieEmile Durkheim is knows as the "father of sociology" and is a founding figure in the field of sociology. He is credited with making sociology a science. One of his most famous pieces of work includes Suicide: A Study In Sociology, and another important work of...
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...Alex Cecola Professor Carrick Writing 140 64595 Assignment #1 January 30, 2012 Bigger Than Life…Try Big Freedia Scientifically, humans have been defined as having opposable thumbs, higher thinking, having dominion over earth, etc. But what defines one human before another? What makes one human more interesting and marketable compared to the next? A human being can be “intersectionally” classified by race and class just based off gender. Race and class are not only verifications justified on a driver’s license and country club application background checks, but actually form and shape gender roles even in today’s so called “equal rights” society. One of the most intriguing characters making headlines lately is a, by sex, a male and yet is referred to as a “her” (Jonathan). Big Freedia comes from the musically established city of New Orleans where new genres of music seem to get pumped out by the decade. Big Freedia has taken full advantage of her city and the new music. Her genre of music can be labeled under “Sissy Bounce” subgenre. This type of music is an energetic upbeat twist off from the standard hip-hop music. This genre known as bounce was not started by Big Freedia, and she admits it and says she is just the next artist hoping to put bounce music on the map. (Jonathan) Upfront, Big Freedia is a taller rather larger man, standing at six feet and two inches tall. She dresses very fashionably yet portrays a more masculine look compared to a feminine one. Her...
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...requirement is to be good support for the ballerinas (Howard, 2017), resulting in a less strict standard of beauty. Ballet, since its inception, has been a sport that was incurred through “whiteness” (Van Wyk, 2013). Van Wyk (2013) describes how ballet is an expression of white culture, shaped by Eurocentric ideals of beauty, affluence, and the “natural” way to move. Therefore, racialized standards of the female body have presented black women with barriers to entry in ballet, both historically and in the present. Using a lens of intersectionality, the relationship between race and gender can be examined through the lived experiences of black ballerinas. At the Intersection of Race and Gender A term coined by Kimberlé Crenshaw (2014), intersectionality accounts for the issue that arises between the interaction of two or more axes of subordination, including the structural and dynamic consequences that result due to these interactions. Intersectionality can be used to deconstruct the gendered discrimination towards women who are already marginalized by race (Grzanka, 2014), such as women of color who are attempting to progress in ballet but are held back by racialized norms of femininity. Black women, as paraphrased by Grzanka (2014), can encounter double discrimination based on their race and gender, that replicates the combined experiences of black men and white women. However, black women can also face discrimination that is not a derivative of the lived experiences of white...
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...RUNNING HEAD: Pre-Prospectus An Exploration of the Reproduction and Perpetuation of Socio-historical Oppression in U.S. Schools: Pre-prospectus La’Quaria Barton Georgia Southern University Dr. Delores Liston, Dissertation Chair Dr. Daniel E. Chapman, Committee Member Dr. Lorraine S. Gilpin, Committee Member Dr. Robert Yarbrough, Committee Member TENTATIVE CHAPTER OUTLINE Chapter 1: Introduction * Background of the Problem * Statement of the Problem * Purpose of the Study * Research Questions * Importance of the Study * Scope of the Study * Definition of Terms * Limitations Chapter 2: Theoretical Framework Chapter 3: Review of the Literature Chapter 4: Research Methods * The Qualitative Paradigm * Qualitative Methods * The Researcher's Role * Data Sources * Data Collection * Data Analysis * Ethical Considerations Chapter 5: Research Findings Chapter 6: Conclusions, Discussion, and Suggestions for Future Research * Summary * Conclusions * Discussion * Suggestions for Future Research Towards A Phenomenology of Liberation From the very start, I am thus fully endorsing the premise that no account of race can be dissociated from a critique of power and a social historical ontology of ourselves (de Oliveira, 2010, 209). INTRODUCTION I grew up in rural North Carolina. When I was in the third grade, I watched as five of my white peers were pulled from class to attend gifted courses. I always wondered why, I, who had always worked...
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