Influence of Intersectionality on Communication:Case of Kamala Harris (Essay Sample)

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The Influence of Intersectionality on Communication: The case of Kamala Harris
Intersectionality refers to the overlapping of social classifications such as race and gender and how they create complex systems of discrimination. Intersectionality is essential in communication since it provides an understanding of the interplay between different marginalized social identities and daily interactions in any social setting. The example of Kamala Harris, including her portrayal of effective communication skills and her experience with bigotry comments, illustrate the effect of intersectionality on communication.
Kamala Harris’s intersectional identity positively influences how she communicates with people. Harris is the first female, first black, and first Asian-American Vice President of the US. She is a woman of color with unique experiences at the intersection of racism and sexism. Although Harris does not explicitly use the word intersectionality, she recognizes her intersectional identity. She discourages viewing individuals as “one-dimensional” but “a sum of many factors” CITATION McS20 \p n.p \l 1033 (McShane n.p). Perceiving individuals as multidimensional puts her in an advantaged position to open communication channels. During the presidential campaigns, Harris used her background to connect with voters by speaking about issues faced by minority groups in the USACITATION Loc21 \p 451 \l 1033 (Locke and Joseph 451). Harris leveraged her intersectional identity and experiences to communicate with different groups of people.
However, Harris also endured uncivil comments from individuals that did not understand her unique background. Many people against Biden’s presidential campaign unfairly judged and dehumanized her based on her race and gender. Former President Trump said, “I do not want to see a woman president,” while racist groups labeled her “an angry black woman”CITATION Ast20 \p n.p. \l 1033 (Astor n.p.). Kamala’s experience showcases how different stereotypes influence offensive conversations. Her experience shows how communication is difficult in the face of a lack of an understanding of intersectionality.
In conclusion, the case of Kamala Harris illustrates how intersectionality can positively or negatively influence communication. Intersectionality recognizes how social iden