Intersectionality

Intersectionality describes how all aspects of an individual’s identity (i.e., class, race, gender, religion, sexual orientation etc.) are meaningful and worthy of consideration when trying to understand a given person’s experiences and challenges (Cho et al., 2013; K. Crenshaw, 1991). Many identities are associated with additional inequities or challenges and those challenges may be compounded in individuals with multiple overlapping identities (K. W. Crenshaw, 1989). Many identities are associated with additional inequities or challenges and those challenges may be compounded in individuals with multiple overlapping identities. Consider that having one disadvantaged identity is a bit like trying to cross a busy street, while having multiple such identities would be like trying to cross an intersection where two or more busy roads meet. For example, a disabled first-generation transgender woman of low GWI is almost certain to face more challenges and barriers than most first-generation students. Likewise, an African American woman who experiences both racism and sexism will have much different experiences than her White male peers (NCSES, 2021).

The intersectionality field has primarily explored intersections of race, social class, gender, and sexual orientation (Nichols & Stahl, 2019). Students may have multiple identities, some obvious and others hidden, which may impact how those students are affected by certain comments, conversations, and coursework. The present review discusses some multiply-disadvantaged identities which are frequently co-incident (e.g. first generation students are frequently racial minorities) where data is available, but a complete analysis is not possible as most of the pedagogical literature focuses on one or two aspects of a person’s identity in order to simplify data-driven research (Naylor et al., 2016). That said, instructors would do well to remember that their students may have multiple identities, some obvious and others hidden, which may impact how those students are affected by certain comments, conversations, and coursework.