Intersectionality: changing power relations
“Intersectionality is a lens through which you can see where power comes and collides …”
Kimberlé Crenshaw
The oppressive use of power
Intersectionality studies how power dynamics, shaped by institutional actions and the use of the law, create patterns of inequity across particular populations.
Kimberlé Crenshaw – a leading legal scholar – in her groundbreaking work on intersectionality drew on the case of a group of Black women employees. They worked at General Motors and sued the company, claiming they were blocked from promotion within the organisation. The defence argued that the organisation had previously promoted white women and Black men therefore could not be racist or misogynistic. The court dismissed the claim, because it did not recognise how racism and misogyny can combine to harm the women.
This case, and intersectionality more generally, shows that power is shaped by multiple overlapping ideologies including racism, classism and misogyny. These forces work against numerous populations, including those who are Black or Minoritised Ethnic, working class, people who are disabled, female, non-binary and so on. And some people face multiple interacting layers of harm.
To seriously address intersectionality, we must a) recognise how power impacts various groups; and b) strive to make power structures operate in pursuit of equity.
The wrong end of the telescope
The potential of intersectionality to change how and in whose interest power works may not be realised, because intersectionality is sometimes viewed from the wrong end of the telescope. From this perspective there is too much focus on identity and not enough on politics.
In other words, to serve anti-racism, race equity and efforts to ensure all people can thrive, it is important to go beyond comparing which groups do better and worse. Instead the emphasis should be on examining and altering the underlying power structures that drive harm and inequitable outcomes.
Making things political
Intersectionality is inherently political. It is about how the use and distribution of power shapes equitable and inequitable outcomes. Mainstream civil society organisations guided by intersectionality therefore will be doing a number of things at the same time.
They work to understand how existing power dynamics shape their specific issues, such as poverty, health or climate crisis.
They develop strategies to address power imbalances and inequitable impacts, e.g., by undertaking strategic litigation to use the law to support those experiencing harms.
They understand that racism, classism, misogyny and so on are not the same – but that they are connected and harmful. They see that, ultimately, to stop any of these forces we must defeat them all.
Specific interventions
Importantly, as organisations seek to take forward the insights from intersectionality, they should also have the confidence to intervene specifically for anti-racism and race equity where that is needed. Intersectionality is not about doing everything at once. It is about action within a larger context of power and harm.
A space for reflection
Reflect on these questions in a way that feels right for you. You might choose to write, draw, record a voice note or video, or talk it through with a trusted friend or collaborator.
- In your work in civil society, how are you seeing power maintaining inequity?
- What is needed to address these imbalances?
- What specifically are you going to do next?
