This week is another foundational article and concept: Intersectionality as described by Dr. Kimberlé Crenshaw, Professor of Law at Columbia University. You can download the article for free from Racial Equality Tools.
The basic concept of Intersectionality describes the way in which one's identity is constituted by various parts, which in some cases multiply disadvantage individuals. More simply, race and gender interact with other identity categories, like age, physical ability or health condition, nationality, and religion, to create different forms of bias and advantage. In this article, Dr. Crenshaw specifically discusses Black feminism and the ways in which it is impossible for Black women to prioritize being women or being Black. The notion of Intersectionality is a key piece of what is called 'third wave feminism.’ Next week I will do a quick history of the waves of feminism but in the meantime, there is a basic explanation of third wave feminism here at the Being Feminist blog.
For those of you who would rather watch or listen, there's also a TED talk about Intersectionality given by Dr. Crenshaw.
Have you considered your own identity intersections before? What are some ways that your specific location - your combination of gender, sex, race, sexuality, age, disability, class, and religion - mean that you are afforded privilege or experience bias? How does this affect your mothering? What intersections and layers of identity do your children have that you do not?