Intersectionality examines how aspects of identity such as race, gender, class, and sexuality overlap to create unique experiences of privilege and oppression. The concept, coined by Kimberlé Crenshaw and rooted in the work of Black feminist scholars, is central to understanding how systems of inequality operate. The Oxford Dictionary defines it as “the interconnected nature of social categorisations such as race, class, and gender, regarded as creating overlapping and interdependent systems of discrimination or disadvantage.”

Key works such as Ain’t I a Woman? Black Women and Feminism by bell hooks and Sister Outsider by Audre Lorde emphasize the necessity of acknowledging these intersections. These texts highlight how systems like racism, sexism, and classism reinforce one another, disproportionately affecting marginalised individuals. Crenshaw’s essay in Critical Race Theory: The Key Writings That Formed the Movement explores how focusing on singular issues—like the gender pay gap—without considering dimensions like race or immigration status can inadvertently maintain inequalities within groups.

By integrating insights from books like Patricia Hill Collins’ Black Feminist Thought and Angela Davis’ Women, Race & Class, we see how addressing oppression requires a holistic approach. Tackling inequality in one area, while ignoring intersecting factors, risks perpetuating the very systems of disadvantage intersectionality aims to dismantle.

Understanding intersectionality is crucial because it reveals how social identities function on multiple, interconnected levels, shaping distinct experiences, challenges, and opportunities for individuals. Kimberlé Crenshaw’s seminal article, Demarginalizing the Intersection of Race and Sex (1989), illustrates how focusing on a single aspect of identity—such as race or gender—fails to capture the compounded impact of overlapping oppressions. Crenshaw used examples of Black women being excluded from both feminist movements and anti-racist initiatives to highlight how these systems interdependently reinforce disadvantage.

Similarly, Patricia Hill Collins’ work, Toward a New Vision: Race, Class, and Gender as Categories of Analysis and Connection (1993), argues that forms of oppression like racism, sexism, and classism are not isolated but mutually constructing. These articles emphasize that reducing oppression to a single dimension oversimplifies systemic inequality and undermines efforts to create effective change. Instead, understanding these interconnected dynamics is essential for creating policies and practices that address the full complexity of discrimination and privilege.

Ignoring intersectionality results in the oversimplification of social issues and the perpetuation of inequities, as it fails to account for the complexity of people’s experiences. Without an intersectional lens, several negative outcomes can arise:

By applying an intersectional perspective, educators can identify and challenge practices that perpetuate inequities. This approach enables the creation of more inclusive environments that acknowledge and support the diverse needs of all students, ultimately fostering equity and belonging in the classroom.

To show up in a more intersectional way, it’s essential to approach allyship with intentionality, reflection, and a commitment to continuous growth. Here are some actionable steps to integrate intersectionality into your daily actions:

By actively engaging in these practices, you can create meaningful change in how you show up, ensuring your actions contribute to equity and inclusion across all intersections of identity.