MiniLesson: Intersectionality and Ideology

Summary

This mini-lesson introduces two pivotal concepts: intersectionality and ideology. Intersectionality, coined by Kimberlé Crenshaw, acknowledges that individuals' multiple group memberships shape their unique experiences of bias. The lesson uses personal and political examples to illustrate how identities like race, gender, and class interlink, affecting how people perceive the world. Ideology is presented as a belief system that influences actions and often justifies inequality. The instructor challenges students to examine ideologies like patriarchy and feminism, emphasizing how they permeate societal structures and are perpetuated through media and institutions.

Takeaways

• 🔗 Intersectionality is a concept that recognizes the interconnected nature of social categorizations like race, gender, and class, which influence how individuals experience bias and discrimination.
• 👩‍🏫 The term 'intersectionality' was coined by Kimberlé Crenshaw in 1989, but the concept has roots in earlier activism, including 19th-century speeches by black women.
• 🌟 Intersectionality allows us to understand that identities are not experienced in isolation but are shaped by the complex interplay of multiple social categories.
• 🗳️ An example given is the false dichotomy presented to black women voters during Obama's campaign, highlighting the need to consider the intersection of race and gender in political engagement.
• 🚫 The concept challenges the notion of a singular, monolithic experience for any group, emphasizing the diversity within groups like women, black people, or LGBTQ+ individuals.
• 💡 Ideology is defined as a belief system that interprets the world, guides actions, and often justifies social inequalities and structures of oppression.
• 🏛️ Patriarchy is cited as an example of an ideology that justifies male dominance and the traditional gender roles that place men as providers and women as caregivers.
• 🌈 Feminist ideology is presented as a counter to patriarchy, advocating for the dismantling of gender stereotypes and the equal distribution of power and resources.
• 📚 The course will use an intersectional lens to scrutinize gender alongside other categories such as race, class, and sexuality, to understand the nuanced experiences of gendered oppression.
• 🌐 Ideologies are often hegemonic, being presented as the natural order and internalized through societal institutions and practices, which can go unchallenged.

Q & A

What are the two key terms introduced in the mini lesson?

The two key terms introduced in the mini lesson are 'intersectionality' and 'ideology'.

Who coined the term 'intersectionality' and when?

Kimberly Crenshaw coined the term 'intersectionality' in 1989.

What does the concept of intersectionality allow us to understand?

Intersectionality allows us to understand that categories of difference, such as race, gender, class, sexuality, religion, region, language, and citizenship, shape and construct each other and cannot be unlinked.

How does intersectionality relate to the experiences of a black cis queer woman?

Intersectionality relates to the experiences of a black cis queer woman by recognizing that she experiences womanhood through her queerness, racialized body, and other aspects of her identity, all of which are interconnected.

What is an example used in the script to illustrate the concept of intersectionality?

An example used in the script is the news reports and interviews with black women voters during Obama's presidential campaign, which framed their voting decision as a choice between race and gender, rather than policy or political beliefs.

What does the term 'ideology' refer to in the context of the lesson?

In the context of the lesson, 'ideology' refers to a belief system that shapes interpretations, makes sense of the world, and guides actions and behaviors, often providing justification for inequality and oppression.

How does a patriarchal ideology justify the system that privileges men?

A patriarchal ideology justifies the system that privileges men by suggesting that men are naturally physically stronger and should be protectors and providers for their families, while women should stay home due to their perceived weakness.

What is the relationship between ideologies and hegemony?

Ideologies are often related to hegemony, where the dominant perspective or hegemonic view is accepted as natural and not questioned, being repeatedly taught and ingrained through media, social interactions, and institutions.

How should students approach the readings for the week in relation to the terms 'intersectionality' and 'ideology'?

Students should think about both 'intersectionality' and 'ideology' while reading, paying particular attention to how these terms are used and thought about by others in their writing.

What is the significance of understanding intersectionality and ideology in the context of the course?

Understanding intersectionality and ideology is significant in the context of the course because it allows students to scrutinize gender and other categories through an intersectional lens, recognizing that experiences are not singular but shaped by multiple, interconnected identities.