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Thu, May 30 2013 05:55:45
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Politics

Intersectionality- A Brief Summary

Feminists are often accused of not explaining ideas and terminology that's considered academic. I thought I'd change that.

  1. Blackfeminists
    ·
    Thu, Apr 18 2013 05:07:58
  2. sazza_jay
    Sarah McAlpine@sazza_jay
    A few people are now asking me for a summary of intersectionality. So here goes. DISCLAIMER: I never studied this at any academic level, so>
    Fri, Jan 11 2013 13:25:09
  3. sazza_jay
    Sarah McAlpine@sazza_jay
    <it's pretty much my interpretation as shaped by feminist and political blogs. I may not get it 100% right.
    Fri, Jan 11 2013 13:25:40
  4. sazza_jay
    Sarah McAlpine@sazza_jay
    1. To understand intersectionality we must first understand Kyriarchy.
    Fri, Jan 11 2013 13:26:26
  5. sazza_jay
    Sarah McAlpine@sazza_jay
    2. Kyriarchy is the understanding that people are oppressed in different ways but may be privileged in others.
    Fri, Jan 11 2013 13:27:10
  6. sazza_jay
    Sarah McAlpine@sazza_jay
    3. For example, as a white woman I am oppressed on the basis of sex but privileged on the basis of race.
    Fri, Jan 11 2013 13:27:55
  7. sazza_jay
    Sarah McAlpine@sazza_jay
    4. Often, people are oppressed in various ways. Their oppressions INTERSECT and overlap.
    Fri, Jan 11 2013 13:29:07
  8. sazza_jay
    Sarah McAlpine@sazza_jay
    5. As Feminists battling oppression, we accept that other oppressions exist and accept that they are also a part of our battle.
    Fri, Jan 11 2013 13:30:08
  9. sazza_jay
    Sarah McAlpine@sazza_jay
    6. For example, it is no good to have all white women in The Cabinet and call that an equality win.
    Fri, Jan 11 2013 13:31:04
  10. sazza_jay
    Sarah McAlpine@sazza_jay
    7. Our sisters often experience other types of discrimination, and we must bring them with us in our fight for equality or it is meaningless
    Fri, Jan 11 2013 13:31:55
  11. sazza_jay
    Sarah McAlpine@sazza_jay
    8. This means that we LISTEN to our sisters who are experiencing different oppressions, and not accuse them of 'splitting the movement'
    Fri, Jan 11 2013 13:35:16
  12. sazza_jay
    Sarah McAlpine@sazza_jay
    9. This also means accepting that other people experience more oppressive structures than you may face.
    Fri, Jan 11 2013 13:36:39
  13. sazza_jay
    Sarah McAlpine@sazza_jay
    10. If you truly want a Feminism that has meaning, you also have to accept that it is not their job to educate you.
    Fri, Jan 11 2013 13:37:31
  14. sazza_jay
    Sarah McAlpine@sazza_jay
    11. If they do choose to educate you, it is not their job to be polite about it.
    Fri, Jan 11 2013 13:38:41
  15. sazza_jay
    Sarah McAlpine@sazza_jay
    12. If you are lucky, you will have people around you who will call you on your privilege when you say/do shitty privileged things.
    Fri, Jan 11 2013 13:39:22
  16. sazza_jay
    Sarah McAlpine@sazza_jay
    13. If you're really lucky, they'll even explain why it was a shitty privileged thing to say/do. Maybe even nicely.
    Fri, Jan 11 2013 13:40:23
  17. sazza_jay
    Sarah McAlpine@sazza_jay
    14. It sucks when you offend someone. Unpacking your privilege sucks. It sucks feeling guilty for something you never asked for.
    Fri, Jan 11 2013 13:42:55
  18. sazza_jay
    Sarah McAlpine@sazza_jay
    15. Don't take that guilt out on the people calling you on your privilege. Take it out on the system that creates inequality.
    Fri, Jan 11 2013 13:43:58
  19. sazza_jay
    Sarah McAlpine@sazza_jay
    16. FEMINISM WILL BE INTERSECTIONAL, OR IT WILL BE BULLSHIT.
    Fri, Jan 11 2013 13:44:17
  20. FYI this ^^ fantastic quote here^^ is from the consistently excellent @redlightvoices.
  21. sazza_jay
    Sarah McAlpine@sazza_jay
    17. Norm I'd say 'here endeth the lesson'-but that's the point. It NEVER ENDS. That's the joy & horror of this fucked up beautiful world
    Fri, Jan 11 2013 13:45:25
  22. sazza_jay
    Sarah McAlpine@sazza_jay
    18. For further reading on intersectionality, I suggest bell hooks as a starting point. I open up the floor to anyone with further thoughts
    Fri, Jan 11 2013 13:46:30
  23. OR for a visual description of intersectionality, there's this, by Miriam Dobson;
  24. Wordpress
    ·
    Thu, May 30 2013 05:55:14

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Sarah McAlpine

Communications Intern. Volunteer News Editor at http://www.liberalconspiracy.org. A Feminist Whackjob of The Mooncup Brigade.

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