Intersectionality
Until seeing the video in class last evening, I had never heard the term intersectionality. As Dr. Stevos posted the slide entitled "Intersectionality" I tried to come up with words that define this term. I came up with nothing. Fransheska then defined intersectionality. I now had a working definition and example of this term. But it wasn't until we watched the TED talk with Kimberle Crenshaw that I could feel what this term means. Ms. Crensahw coupled with Abby Dobson's singing really drove the point of intersectionality home. Both women conjured emotions of hurt and pain, sadness and despair. I felt angered by not only the atrocities experienced by the murdered women, but also that their stories, their names never made it to mainstream media. This point was furthered by the number of people who sat once these names were verbalized.
The Wheel of Privilege and Power is interesting in that there is a space for everyone in it. I could relate to a few of the ideas presented in this graph. I have been married and divorced. I have been poor and now although not wealthy can provide for myself and my family. I was young and I am now middle-aged. I worked manual labor (or hourly) and am now salaried. In some ways I have moved from the fringe more toward the center, in other ways I have not. The Wheel of Intersectionality provides a visual for how people fit into the cog of society, more specifically, the cog of power. Kimberle Crenshaw not only states that this wheel exists, but she has started a movement. She has provided black women with a voice. She has provided those women who were horrifically murdered an eternal space.
While every single one of us can find a space in this wheel, it's important that we also recognize we can move within it. You could be at the center and experience perceived power and then suddenly drop to the fringe. I feel this happens constantly. People cannot be placed in boxes their entire lives. One simply cannot believe this is my place in life and it can never change. People also cannot believe that others' perception of who/what they are defines their lives. For example, I have been married and divorced. So here I sit on the fringe of the marriage wheel. According to this section, I should feel that those who are married and remain married have more "power" than me. That somehow they are better than me. I feel going through divorce made me stronger. I do not feel that those in long term marriages have a life that is better than my own. I remain a strong and independent woman and have never let popular or powerful opinion dictate my choices in life. I don't believe I have ever been on the path of least resistance. I have usually done my own thing; even if it was against popular opinion.
Systematic change occurs on a small scale at first. When people see the system, and understand their place in it, that is when you can facilitate change. Many people turn a blind eye, or they are afraid of change. The reality is, we are in perpetual motion. People should not continue to be a cog in the wheel. People should encourage change and promote justice. People should be a voice for those who for whatever reason, have none. It is imperative to speak truth and raise awareness. Ms. Crenshaw showcases this point beautifully in her TED talk.
"People cannot be placed in boxes their entire lives" I think this very simple sentiment says so much. Our society is built from these boxes. We fill these boxes with people who we want to keep sight of, and to keep in our control. Putting things into neat systems can be useful for building understanding in the short term, but the idea that we would build a society around an unequal distribution of power, that has the capability of compounding injustice for groups who experience the challenges of intersectionality is appalling.
ReplyDelete"Systematic change occurs on a small scale at first." We see the results of this each day we step outside. Systemic racism started small, but so do the solutions that we need to put into place. It all starts with an honest acknowledgement of the problem, a humble admission that things need to change. From there, we can truly build something bigger.
In my writing, I also expressed my surprise at not having heard the term and I also highlighted the lack of mention of black women who are victims of police brutality. I found it striking that black men are often the primary focus in media when they are killed by a police officer, while black women receive very little attention. This made me question the perception that black women face less discrimination, as it seems to be the opposite in these instances. Her Ted Talk was powerful and emotional.
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