Intersectionality (Essay Sample)

Student’s Name Professor’s Name Course Number Date INTERSECTIONALITY Intersectionality refers to the various forms of oppression founded on different classifications of identity that overlap, compound, or “intersect” with each other. This includes sexism, classism, ageism, ableism, and racism (Carastathis, 2016). Over the decades or centuries, people are only drawn and conformed to one type of traditional concept or ideology of oppression and discrimination – not until the term “intersectionality” was coined by professor Kimberlé Crenshaw in 1989 to further the discussion. Intersectionality was rooted in the efforts of prominent black feminists who fought for their rights which were in no way explained by ideologies that only cater to black men or white men's problems. The aim of intersectionality is not just to serve as an additional idea since it is not mainly concerned only with superficial questions of identity, or representation but calls for a dialogue on deep systemic and structural matters or questions about inequality (Goertz, 2008). Recently, the world was abuzz by the historical win of 57-year-old Kamala Harris, an intersectional candidate, who became the first female, first African American, and first Asian American Vice President with Indian American roots, and immigrant parents. American Bar Association (Gordon, 2021) described Harris as a biracial first-generation American woman who had not just a historical but “culturally significant” electoral journey. Communication in politics is like a tunnel bridge bringing you from one place to the other. Politics, especially during electoral seasons, can be very daunting, complicated, and chaotic. But with communication per se, it can either make or break things. It is like that tunnel bridge that can be very dark and long but it is up to you to keep on driving until you get there or stop and go for a U-turn. Same with communication, it may be refused by the public audience. With Kamala Harris, her authenticity, aggressiveness, and inherent relatability gave effective communication. Hoover Institution (Whalen, 2021) even stated that “history is on her side.” Being an intersectionality candidate provided her with that effective participatory machinery that contributed to a more inclusive politics and vibrant civil society. She need not pretend about anything. Intersectionality may not be new, but it is not that popular, well-tolerated or e...