Kimberlé Crenshaw: What is Intersectionality?

National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS)

22 Jun 201801:54

Summary

TLDRThe video script delves into the concept of intersectionality, a lens for examining how various forms of inequality can interweave and amplify each other, creating complex challenges not fully addressed by traditional social justice frameworks. It highlights the example of African-American girls being disproportionately suspended, emphasizing the need to understand and address the interplay of race and gender stereotypes in educational settings. The script advocates for schools to embrace a comprehensive approach to curriculum and opportunities, ensuring equal access for all students by recognizing the interconnectedness of identity with history and community.

Takeaways

🌟 Intersectionality is a concept that helps understand how different forms of inequality can overlap and create complex obstacles that are not typically addressed by single-issue social justice advocacy.
🔍 Intersectionality is not a grand theory but a lens or prism through which to view and understand certain kinds of social problems.
👧 The example given of African-American girls being six times more likely to be suspended than white girls illustrates how race and gender can intersect to create unique challenges.
🤔 The convergence of race and gender stereotypes can play out in various educational settings, affecting interactions between teachers, students, and administrators.
🏫 Schools should commit to understanding these intersections to provide equal educational opportunities for all students, regardless of their identities.
📚 Identity is not an isolated concept but is inherently relational, involving a person's relationship with history, communities, and institutions.
📈 Schools can excel by recognizing the importance of curricular development that includes the histories and experiences of all students.
🛠 Understanding the historical context is crucial for changing current outcomes, as it provides insight into how they have come about.
🏛 Independent schools have the opportunity to lead by being responsive to their diverse student populations and the communities they come from.
🌐 Commitment to inclusivity and understanding the multifaceted nature of identity is essential for creating a more equitable educational environment.

Q & A

What does the term 'intersectionality' refer to in the context of social justice advocacy?
-Intersectionality is a metaphor for understanding the ways in which multiple forms of inequality or disadvantage can compound themselves, leading to obstacles that are not typically understood within conventional anti-racism, feminism, or other social justice frameworks.
Why is intersectionality not considered a grand theory but rather a prism?
-Intersectionality is viewed as a prism because it helps to understand certain kinds of problems by looking at them through the lens of multiple intersecting identities and inequalities, rather than providing a comprehensive theory.
What is an example given in the script that illustrates the concept of intersectionality?
-The script provides the example that African-American girls are six times more likely to be suspended than white girls, indicating a compounding of race and gender issues, which is not solely a race or gender problem.
How does the convergence of race and gender stereotypes play out in educational settings according to the script?
-The convergence of race and gender stereotypes can manifest in various interactions within the classroom, such as between teachers and students, among students, and between students and administrators, affecting educational opportunities and outcomes.
What is the role of schools in addressing the issues highlighted by intersectionality?
-Schools should understand the relationship between people, history, and communities, and commit to curricular development and providing opportunities for all students to understand the histories that have shaped current realities, in order to change outcomes.
Why is it important for schools to be responsive to their student populations and the communities they come from?
-Being responsive ensures that schools can provide equal educational opportunities for all students, regardless of their identities, by understanding and addressing the specific histories and challenges faced by their student populations.
What is the significance of understanding the historical context in addressing current educational disparities?
-Understanding the historical context is crucial because it reveals how current outcomes have come about, allowing for more effective interventions and changes in educational policies and practices.
How can independent schools take the lead in being responsive to their students' needs?
-Independent schools can take the lead by being proactive in understanding and addressing the specific needs of their student populations, including engaging with the communities the students come from and tailoring curricula and opportunities accordingly.
What does the script suggest is a key commitment for schools in providing equal educational opportunities?
-The script suggests that schools should commit to understanding the intersectional identities of their students and the historical contexts that have shaped their experiences, as a way of intervening and providing equal opportunities.
How is identity portrayed in the script in relation to educational opportunities?
-Identity is portrayed as not being self-contained but rather as a relationship between people, history, and communities, which should be considered when providing educational opportunities to ensure they are equitable.
What is the implication of the script's message for educators and administrators in terms of their approach to student interactions?
-The implication is that educators and administrators should be aware of and address the potential impact of race and gender stereotypes in student interactions, and work towards creating an inclusive and equitable educational environment.

Outlines

00:00

🌟 Understanding Intersectionality

This paragraph introduces intersectionality as a concept that helps to understand how different forms of inequality, such as race and gender, can compound and create complex obstacles not typically addressed by conventional social justice frameworks. It uses the example of African-American girls being six times more likely to be suspended than white girls to illustrate how race and gender intersect in educational settings. The speaker encourages educators to recognize and address these compounding factors to ensure equal opportunities for all students.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Intersectionality

Intersectionality is a concept that refers to the interplay of various forms of social categorization such as race, class, and gender, which can create overlapping and interdependent systems of discrimination or disadvantage. In the video, it is used to highlight how these multiple forms of inequality can compound and create complex obstacles that are not fully addressed by traditional approaches to social justice advocacy.

💡Inequality

Inequality, in this context, refers to the unfair or unequal treatment or opportunity among different groups of people. The script discusses how intersectionality helps in understanding the ways in which different forms of inequality can combine, leading to compounded disadvantages, such as the higher likelihood of African-American girls being suspended compared to white girls.

💡Disadvantage

Disadvantage denotes a state where an individual or group is at a less favorable position compared to others, often due to systemic biases or prejudices. The video script uses the term to emphasize the compounded nature of disadvantages when multiple forms of inequality intersect, such as race and gender stereotypes in educational settings.

💡Anti-racism

Anti-racism is a stance, policy, or belief that opposes racism by supporting racial equality and actively working to eliminate racist practices. The script mentions anti-racism as one of the conventional ways of thinking that intersectionality expands upon, by considering the combined effects of race with other social categories.

💡Feminism

Feminism is a social and political movement advocating for equal rights for women and the recognition of women's rights as human rights. The video script uses feminism as an example of a social justice advocacy structure that intersectionality can enhance by considering the interplay of gender with other forms of inequality.

💡Social Justice Advocacy

Social justice advocacy refers to the act of supporting or campaigning for measures to promote social justice, which includes the fair and just relations between individuals and groups. The script discusses how intersectionality can provide a more nuanced understanding of social justice issues by considering the intersection of multiple forms of inequality.

💡Prism

In the context of the video, a prism is used metaphorically to describe intersectionality as a lens through which to view and understand the complex interplay of different forms of inequality. It suggests that intersectionality offers a way to see and analyze social issues from multiple perspectives simultaneously.

💡Obstacles

Obstacles in the video script refer to the barriers or hindrances that individuals or groups face due to systemic inequalities. The concept is used to describe the challenges that are not easily understood or addressed by conventional social justice frameworks, emphasizing the need for an intersectional approach.

💡Educational Opportunity

Educational opportunity refers to the availability and accessibility of quality education for all students, regardless of their background. The script discusses the importance of understanding intersectionality to provide equal educational opportunities and to intervene in situations where race and gender stereotypes create disadvantages in the classroom.

💡Identity

Identity in the video script refers to the aspects of a person's self-image or group affiliation, which can include race, gender, and other social categories. It is highlighted as a critical factor in understanding how individuals experience and navigate social systems and institutions, such as schools.

💡Curricular Development

Curricular development is the process of designing, implementing, and refining educational curricula. The video script suggests that schools can do a good job by understanding intersectionality and committing to curricular development that acknowledges and incorporates the diverse histories and experiences of their student populations.

💡Histories

Histories, in this context, refers to the past events and narratives that have shaped the present social structures and individual experiences. The script emphasizes the importance of understanding these histories to change current outcomes and to create more equitable educational opportunities.

Highlights

Intersectionality is a metaphor for understanding the compounding effects of multiple forms of inequality or disadvantage.

It is not a grand theory but a prism for understanding complex social justice problems.

African-American girls are six times more likely to be suspended than white girls, indicating a race and gender issue.

The convergence of race and gender stereotypes can play out in the classroom, affecting educational opportunities.

Understanding and intervening in these issues is crucial for providing equal educational opportunities.

Identity is a relationship between people, history, communities, and institutions.

Schools should commit to curricular development and opportunities for all students to understand their histories.

Understanding historical contexts is essential for changing outcomes in education.

Independent schools can take the lead in being responsive to their diverse student populations.

Schools should engage with the communities their students come from to better understand their backgrounds.

Intersectionality helps in understanding obstacles not typically recognized in conventional social justice advocacy.

The problem of school suspensions for African-American girls is a complex issue of race and gender stereotypes.

Commitment to understanding and addressing the convergence of race and gender stereotypes is necessary.

Educational institutions must be aware of the historical and communal factors influencing student identities.

Curricular development should reflect the diverse histories and experiences of all students.

Schools must be proactive in understanding and addressing the systemic issues affecting their students.

Intersectionality offers a framework for identifying and addressing the root causes of educational disparities.

The transcript emphasizes the importance of a comprehensive approach to social justice in educational settings.