O que é interseccionalidade? | Com Karina Vieira

Summary

The transcript discusses the Zika virus outbreak in Brazil in 2015, which led to a rise in microcephaly cases, disproportionately affecting Black women. It explores how the intersection of race, gender, and class contributes to systemic inequality, making Black women more vulnerable to the virus and poor living conditions. The concept of intersectionality, introduced by Kimberlé Crenshaw in 1989, is central to understanding these overlapping forms of oppression. The transcript also highlights historical figures like Sojourner Truth and Lélia Gonzalez, who spoke about the intersection of race and gender long before the term 'intersectionality' was coined.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Zika virus outbreak in 2015 caused a rise in microcephaly cases, especially among Black women in Brazil.
• 😀 The Zika virus was transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which thrives in certain environmental conditions.
• 😀 In 2016, 8 out of every 10 women who gave birth to babies with microcephaly in Brazil were Black.
• 😀 The Zika crisis highlights the concept of intersectionality, where race, gender, and class intersect to exacerbate oppression.
• 😀 Kimberlé Crenshaw coined the term 'intersectionality' in 1989 to describe the overlapping forms of discrimination faced by marginalized individuals.
• 😀 The concept of intersectionality was based on the story of Emma, a Black woman who faced discrimination both for her race and gender while seeking employment.
• 😀 Intersectionality explains that racial and gender oppression cannot be separated, as they intersect and compound each other.
• 😀 Black women are more exposed to health risks like the Zika virus due to structural inequalities, including poor healthcare and living conditions.
• 😀 The history of intersectionality is also connected to the work of Sojourner Truth, who highlighted the intersecting struggles of race and gender in the 19th century.
• 😀 Lélia Gonzalez in Brazil also addressed the intersection between race and gender long before the term 'intersectionality' was defined.
• 😀 The intersectional approach emphasizes that fighting against one form of oppression (race, gender, class) must include addressing all forms simultaneously.

Q & A

What was the primary cause of the microcephaly outbreak in Brazil in 2015?

The primary cause of the microcephaly outbreak in Brazil in 2015 was the Zika virus, which was transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito.

How did the Zika virus disproportionately affect black women in Brazil?

Black women in Brazil were disproportionately affected by the Zika virus due to their increased exposure to poor living conditions, inadequate healthcare, and lack of access to resources, which were influenced by intersecting issues of race, gender, and socio-economic status.

What is the concept of intersectionality, and how does it relate to the Zika virus outbreak?

Intersectionality, coined by Kimberlé Crenshaw in 1989, refers to the interconnected nature of social categorizations such as race, gender, and class, which create overlapping systems of discrimination. It relates to the Zika virus outbreak because it helps explain why black women, in particular, were more vulnerable to the virus due to their marginalized social positions.

How did the socioeconomic conditions of black women contribute to their increased vulnerability to Zika?

The socioeconomic conditions of black women, including limited access to formal employment, poor housing conditions, inadequate healthcare, and a lack of sanitation, significantly increased their exposure to the Zika virus and other health risks.

Who was Emma, and how did her story contribute to the development of intersectionality?

Emma was a woman who struggled to gain employment in a factory due to both her race and gender. Her story highlighted the intersecting oppressions faced by black women and helped Kimberlé Crenshaw develop the concept of intersectionality, showing that discrimination cannot be understood by looking at race or gender in isolation.

How does the example of Emma illustrate the core idea of intersectionality?

Emma's experience illustrates that race and gender-based discrimination are interwoven and cannot be separated. Her inability to gain employment in a factory was shaped by both her race as a black woman and her gender, demonstrating how multiple forms of oppression intersect in real-life situations.

What role did Sojourner Truth play in addressing intersectionality before the term was coined?

Sojourner Truth addressed the intersection of race and gender in her 1851 speech, where she pointed out the neglect of black women's needs in the feminist movement, asking why she, as a black woman, was excluded from the privileges granted to white women. This prefigured the ideas behind intersectionality.

What is the significance of Kimberlé Crenshaw's work on intersectionality?

Kimberlé Crenshaw's work on intersectionality is significant because it provided a framework to understand how multiple systems of oppression—such as racism, sexism, and classism—intersect and affect individuals, particularly those from marginalized communities, in complex ways.

How does intersectionality challenge the traditional understanding of oppression?

Intersectionality challenges the traditional understanding of oppression by showing that it is not a simple hierarchy or a matter of adding one form of oppression to another. Instead, it demonstrates that different forms of oppression are interconnected and affect individuals simultaneously, creating unique experiences of marginalization.

Why is it important to ask, 'Which women are we talking about?' when discussing feminism?

It is important to ask, 'Which women are we talking about?' because women’s experiences are shaped by various intersecting factors such as race, class, and gender. This question ensures that feminist discourse includes the voices and concerns of marginalized women, particularly those who experience compounded oppression.