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“I was born black and a woman” - This statement by late dramatist Lorraine Hansberry perfectly describes the concept of intersectionality. Intersectionality, a term coined by Kimberlè Crenshaw in 1989, considers people’s overlapping identities and the experiences that come with it. Intersectionality furthermore serves as a framework for conceptualizing individuals, groups, or social problems as affected by a number of discriminations and disadvantages. The concept has become increasingly significant as people identify with multiple characteristics (e.g. class, sexual identity, race, or gender) at the same time, and it’s the intersection of these that can determine the complexity of prejudices and discrimination that they might encounter. In this class we will discuss a range of different texts by individual authors to determine how these characteristics have shaped experiences. We will discuss texts from feminist perspectives, by Native American authors, LGBTQ+ literature, and by different other minority groups. Goal is to explore how intersectionality has helped to shape diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts in the 20th and 21st century. |
