entering intersectionality to accomplish gender mainstreaming has become a box-ticking exercise, only requiring a perfunctory extrapolation. Some might believe intersectionality is linear, with each of us having single and distinct characteristics, when in fact it is a framework for understanding everyone is a complex individual, often with multiple identities.
It is therefore more important than ever that those with global diverse identities and their attendant lived experiences are heard and understood in conversations about intersectionality to design a better and safer world that truly not just leaves no one behind, but brings along and uplifts people. That was the consensus message developed in the problem-solving lab addressing intersectionality with race, ability and other factors at the Health and Economic Well-being: Gender Equity in Post-Pandemic Rebuilding program recently hosted by Salzburg Global Seminar, in Salzburg, Austria.
‘Re-centering the Needs of a Diverse Group’
"Intersectionality has become a buzzword. While it has proven as a useful tool for highlighting multiple forms of discrimination and how they intersect. There is a need to give a broader picture on the nuances of the lived experiences of intersectional segments, be it race, gender, and ethnicity. The solution lies in re-centering the needs of diverse groups,” said Jocelyn Frye, president of the National Partnership for Women & Families, in an opening statement at the problem-solving lab.
Some of the development principles included asking challenging questions such as how centralized or diverse should intersectionality be? There is much contradiction embedded in the question about intersectionality, depending on the lens being used. Krishanti Dharmaraj, executive director of the Center for Women's Global Leadership in New Brunswick, New Jersey in the U.S. highlighted the ideology, assumption bias and institutionalized polarizations for intersection. Understanding the need to shift repressive power dynamics can strengthen the rights and influence of those most affected by inequities, violence, oppression and injustice across the globe.
People with problems are not problem people. Seeing people as “rights holders" (as opposed to beneficiaries) in shared spaces, communities and institutions has the potential to uphold gender and intersectional equality. This approach demands not just seeing them as "marginalized" communities but equal and deserving communities. Structural inequality is embedded in our society, and it requires bold, concerted action to eliminate it.
"There are many many different kinds of intersectional exclusion—not just black women, but other women of color. Not just people of color, but immigrants, indigenous people and ethnic minority groups,” said Professor Jarpa Dawuni, Associate Professor, Howard University, in Washington, DC, USA. While we may all be weathering the same storm, we are in drastically different boats.
So what needs to happen to re-envision what we mean by intersectionality?
- Defining Intersectionality, Creating Awareness
Our conception of “intersection” and what counts must change, to include the centrality of multiple forms of intersecting inequality. Lebohang Liepollo Pheko, Senior Research Fellow, at Trade Collective, in Johannesburg, South Africa further emphasized how Intersectionality is not the same as diversity. "It is an attempt to understand where people's varied experiences are shaped and where the multiple and varied forms of oppression take place." It further speaks to structure inequality, and social identity—which may both give power and oppress. The awareness helps us identify and talk through sometimes subtle yet substantial differences.
- The Simultaneity Strategies
"Simultaneity," as coined by Jarpa Dawuni during the session, simply means doing different things at the same time. Directing struggle and support and not waiting till we achieve one victory before commencing the journey of another struggle. Demanding healthy and meaningful conversations from ourselves and the spaces we’re in is one vital step in being part of an equitable, just, and sustainable present and future for all.
- Valuing voices
We need to lift up, promote, and support the leadership and storytelling of diverse voices. This applies to many situations where underrepresented or historically excluded people are asked to participate in an activity or contribute to a project. Too often they are still included only for tokenized participation, conferred with "the first black or women of color label" and without much context to give their perspective that’s supposed to represent the “intersection voice.”
It is important to respect the voice of those most affected by issues, respecting their goals for their communities, stepping aside and allowing them to serve as spokespeople for their own causes.
- Data Collection for Evaluation and Impact
We need data, and storytelling narratives for evaluation, "Where we can hear from people telling their own stories of intersectionality and ways they have felt accepted or rejected based on their unique experience,” said Teresa Younger, president and CEO of the Ms. Foundation for Women in Brooklyn, New York, in the U.S. We need to embrace and welcome these differences to continue building balance that can overcome the times we are living in.
Contextualizing gender, intersectionality and human rights in a development paradigm promotes a balance for multi-strengthened synergy. We are all in the fight together and should develop narratives that push intersection in a way that perhaps before we were not able to push and ensure everyone is brought along. Building community and encouraging alliances, critical reflection, collaboration across sectors, and looking out for each other will help us solve problems. That’s why this conversation is happening at the right time and we need to have more conversations like it.
a global affairs media network
Re-centering Intersectionality
Photo by Denys Nevozhai via Unsplash.
November 18, 2022
It is more important than ever that those with global diverse identities are heard and understood in conversations about intersectionality. That was the consensus message developed in a problem-solving lab of Salzburg Global’s recent Health & Economic Well-Being Program, writes Taofeekat Adigun.
C
entering intersectionality to accomplish gender mainstreaming has become a box-ticking exercise, only requiring a perfunctory extrapolation. Some might believe intersectionality is linear, with each of us having single and distinct characteristics, when in fact it is a framework for understanding everyone is a complex individual, often with multiple identities.
It is therefore more important than ever that those with global diverse identities and their attendant lived experiences are heard and understood in conversations about intersectionality to design a better and safer world that truly not just leaves no one behind, but brings along and uplifts people. That was the consensus message developed in the problem-solving lab addressing intersectionality with race, ability and other factors at the Health and Economic Well-being: Gender Equity in Post-Pandemic Rebuilding program recently hosted by Salzburg Global Seminar, in Salzburg, Austria.
‘Re-centering the Needs of a Diverse Group’
"Intersectionality has become a buzzword. While it has proven as a useful tool for highlighting multiple forms of discrimination and how they intersect. There is a need to give a broader picture on the nuances of the lived experiences of intersectional segments, be it race, gender, and ethnicity. The solution lies in re-centering the needs of diverse groups,” said Jocelyn Frye, president of the National Partnership for Women & Families, in an opening statement at the problem-solving lab.
Some of the development principles included asking challenging questions such as how centralized or diverse should intersectionality be? There is much contradiction embedded in the question about intersectionality, depending on the lens being used. Krishanti Dharmaraj, executive director of the Center for Women's Global Leadership in New Brunswick, New Jersey in the U.S. highlighted the ideology, assumption bias and institutionalized polarizations for intersection. Understanding the need to shift repressive power dynamics can strengthen the rights and influence of those most affected by inequities, violence, oppression and injustice across the globe.
People with problems are not problem people. Seeing people as “rights holders" (as opposed to beneficiaries) in shared spaces, communities and institutions has the potential to uphold gender and intersectional equality. This approach demands not just seeing them as "marginalized" communities but equal and deserving communities. Structural inequality is embedded in our society, and it requires bold, concerted action to eliminate it.
"There are many many different kinds of intersectional exclusion—not just black women, but other women of color. Not just people of color, but immigrants, indigenous people and ethnic minority groups,” said Professor Jarpa Dawuni, Associate Professor, Howard University, in Washington, DC, USA. While we may all be weathering the same storm, we are in drastically different boats.
So what needs to happen to re-envision what we mean by intersectionality?
- Defining Intersectionality, Creating Awareness
Our conception of “intersection” and what counts must change, to include the centrality of multiple forms of intersecting inequality. Lebohang Liepollo Pheko, Senior Research Fellow, at Trade Collective, in Johannesburg, South Africa further emphasized how Intersectionality is not the same as diversity. "It is an attempt to understand where people's varied experiences are shaped and where the multiple and varied forms of oppression take place." It further speaks to structure inequality, and social identity—which may both give power and oppress. The awareness helps us identify and talk through sometimes subtle yet substantial differences.
- The Simultaneity Strategies
"Simultaneity," as coined by Jarpa Dawuni during the session, simply means doing different things at the same time. Directing struggle and support and not waiting till we achieve one victory before commencing the journey of another struggle. Demanding healthy and meaningful conversations from ourselves and the spaces we’re in is one vital step in being part of an equitable, just, and sustainable present and future for all.
- Valuing voices
We need to lift up, promote, and support the leadership and storytelling of diverse voices. This applies to many situations where underrepresented or historically excluded people are asked to participate in an activity or contribute to a project. Too often they are still included only for tokenized participation, conferred with "the first black or women of color label" and without much context to give their perspective that’s supposed to represent the “intersection voice.”
It is important to respect the voice of those most affected by issues, respecting their goals for their communities, stepping aside and allowing them to serve as spokespeople for their own causes.
- Data Collection for Evaluation and Impact
We need data, and storytelling narratives for evaluation, "Where we can hear from people telling their own stories of intersectionality and ways they have felt accepted or rejected based on their unique experience,” said Teresa Younger, president and CEO of the Ms. Foundation for Women in Brooklyn, New York, in the U.S. We need to embrace and welcome these differences to continue building balance that can overcome the times we are living in.
Contextualizing gender, intersectionality and human rights in a development paradigm promotes a balance for multi-strengthened synergy. We are all in the fight together and should develop narratives that push intersection in a way that perhaps before we were not able to push and ensure everyone is brought along. Building community and encouraging alliances, critical reflection, collaboration across sectors, and looking out for each other will help us solve problems. That’s why this conversation is happening at the right time and we need to have more conversations like it.
