3.2. Intersectionality: When identities overlap

Exclusion rarely comes from one difference alone; it grows where social identities categories overlap and are unequally valued.

WHAT CONCEPTS SHOULD YOU KNOW AS EDUCATOR?

Intersectionality is a concept that explains how different aspects of a person’s identity (such as gender, ethnicity, social class, disability, or migration background) interact and overlap, shaping their experiences in complex ways. It shows that people are not affected by a single factor at a time, but by the combined effects of multiple social positions, which can create specific forms of disadvantage or advantage. Intersectionality helps explain why people with similar backgrounds may experience situations differently depending on how their identities intersect.

Some social identities can be seen by the others, while some other elements are not visible. In the picture “power flower” you can see some examples of social identities. The picture is called ‘power flower’ because it also encourages us to recognize structural discrimination and power relations in society. E.g. what is considered “normal” and who are left outside of this “normal”.

The outer pedals represent the social identity that has more power in western societies and middle pedals with less power. The purple pedals name the specific social identity category. For example, able-bodied people most likely face less discriminatory elements in society than people with disabilities. This brings possibilities and power. Many times, it is so, that if we possess a powerful social identity, it is perceived as given, taken for granted, and we are not aware of them in our everyday lives. The reality for a less privileged individual is very different: inequalities manifest in many ways. So, because of these social identities we might face oppression, and discrimination on personal or systemic/structural levels. As educators, we need to keep this in mind and do our best to create safer learning spaces, where students can feel safe and respected to express their identities.

We humans are multi-dimensional, and we identify ourselves through many particles of social identities, this forms unique identity puzzles.

The term ‘marginalized’ refers to disadvantaged status in society. What if we belong to more than one marginalized minority in the community? Here we come to the concept of ‘intersectionality’ that is important to comprehend to be able to prevent exclusion in our schools.

The term was first coined by Kimberlé Crenshaw in 1989, a law professor at Columbia University. Crenshaw created this term to describe the specific conditions of black women in our societies: how experiences based on race and gender “intersect” and overlap and form discriminatory situation which should be addressed taking into consideration both the ‘race’ and sex assigned by birth. Nowadays, the term has become rather mainstreamed, and it is used generally to highlight the intersecting elements in our identities. At schools ‘intersectional framework’ can be used to ensure participation and consideration of students in most marginalized positions, to ensure that nobody is left behind.

HOW CAN YOU EXPLAIN IT TO THE STUDENTS?

We are all unique in our own ways. We belong to different social categories and social identities, and it has very tangible social consequences.

What happens if we belong to more than one disadvantaged status in the community? Here we come to the concept of ‘intersectionality’ that is important to comprehend to be able to prevent exclusion in our schools. At schools ‘intersectional framework’ can be used to ensure participation and consideration of students in most marginalized positions, to ensure that nobody is left behind.