Back to: How to tackle the rise of the anti-gender movement

The concept of intersectionality has grown to encompass how various individuals experience discrimination and oppression in society based on multiple characteristics including:

• Class
• Age
• Religion
• Ability
• Sexuality
• Ethnicity

Beyond examining how different forms of oppression overlap, intersectionality has become a framework for understanding how the fundamental systems perpetuating oppression are interconnected.

Why is it important for gender justice?

Intersectionality enables us to comprehend how various types of discrimination combine to intensify inequality. This shapes approaches to activism and helps determine which issues demand immediate attention.

For instance, to achieve gender justice and eliminate violence against all women and girls, we must recognise how violence manifests differently across diverse groups – such as women and girls with disabilities.

Intersectionality also reveals how the systems perpetuating oppression share common roots. We will delve into this concept in the following section.

Quote

Consider this quote from Audre Lorde, an American writer, professor, philosopher and intersectional feminist.

‘There is no such thing as a single-issue struggle because we do not live single-issue lives.’
Audre Lorde, 1982

Further learning

Read The intersectionality wars.

Discussion

What do you think Audre Lorde means?

Can you identify examples of intersecting experiences of discrimination in the broader world?

Share your perspectives with other learners in the comments section.