Intersectional Feminism and its Significance (Essay Sample)

Intersectional Feminism and its Significance

From the severe impacts of the coronavirus pandemic to global protests against discrimination and racism, current events have showcased that we still have a long way to go to achieve equality. The multitude of forms of injustice is essentially overwhelming. So why and how should we take all these issues? Intersectional feminism tends to provide the lens through which the global population can better understand each other, as we strive towards a more equitable future.
In 1989, Kimberle Crenshaw, an American law professor, coined the term intersectionality. In a recent interview with the time, Crenshaw describes intersectional feminism as “a prism for seeing the way in which various forms of inequality often operate together and exacerbate each other” (Steinmetz, 2020). An intersectional approach showcases how an individual’s social identity can overlap, as a result bringing forward a compounding experience of discrimination.
Throughout the history of feminist movements, feminism has focused solely on the experiences of white middle-class women. It is critical to acknowledge that not all white women practice "white feminism." The idea that white women face inequalities the same as all other women face gender inequality is untrue. In an interview with the Time, Crenshaw pointed out, “We tend to talk about race inequality as separate from inequality based on gender, class, sexuality, or immigration status. What’s often missing is how some people are subject to all of these, and the experience is not just a sum of its parts.” This explains why it is critical to bring together women’s inequalities into one experience.