Introduction to Intersectionality Research
Intersectionality is a concept coined in 1989 by Professor Kimberlé Crenshaw to describe how aspects of a person’s social and political identities combine to create different modes of discrimination and privilege. It focuses on understanding how multiple identity factors like gender, race, class, age, sexual orientation, ability status, etc interact on micro and macro social-political levels. Writing a quality research paper on intersectionality involves carefully examining how these overlapping identities shape experiences of inequality, oppression and marginalization.
Developing an Intersectionality Research Topic
The first step is to choose an intersectionality topic that interests you. Some potential areas of focus could include:
How gender and race intersect to influence healthcare experiences and outcomes.
The compound effects of ableism, poverty and gender on employment opportunities.
Intergenerational trauma from historical oppressions like colonialism and its impacts across ethnic/racial identities.
Intersections of sexuality, religiosity and ethnicity in coming out experiences.
Inequalities faced by indigenous women across social locations like citizenship status.
Intersectional discrimination faced by immigrant LGBTQ individuals.
The key is to pick a topic area that allows an analysis of how at least two social identities interact related to an important issue or life experience. You can focus on a specific group or population.
Conducting Intersectional Literature Review
Once you’ve selected your topic, the next crucial step is conducting an intersectional literature review. Don’t just look at sources focusing on single identities in isolation. Search databases using terms like “intersectionality”, your topic keywords plus relevant identity descriptors.
As you review literature:
Note any works explicitly using intersectional frameworks vs those only discussing single identities.
Pay attention to which identity factors are investigated together vs apart.
Seek literature published by academics from relevant identity groups when possible.
Note gaps where intersectional analyses of certain identity combinations are lacking.
This will help you get a robust understanding of prior intersectional scholarship in your topic area and identify opportunities for original contribution.
Developing an Intersectional Theoretical Framework
In addition to citing intersectionality as a concept, your paper needs a clear theoretical framework. Beyond briefly defining intersectionality, explain which intersectional theories will guide your analysis. Some commonly used include:
Crenshaw’s theory of structural intersectionality
Black feminist thought
Postcolonial feminist theories
Mujerista theology
Queer of color critique
Provide an in-depth discussion of the selected theories, relating them directly back to your research topic and questions. Explain how they will illuminate the intersections you are exploring. This demonstrates familiarity with intersectional scholarship.
Using Intersectional Methodologies
Due to its emphasis on understanding combined lived experiences, intersectional research benefits from employment of qualitative or mixed methods. While not always possible, utilizing methodologies like:
Interviews with people holding the intersecting identities
Focus groups examining within-group variance
Analysis of personal narratives or counterstories
Participant observation studies
Community-based participatory research
Allows for collection of rich, nuanced intersectional data. If quantitative, consider how identities are measured and potential erasure of within-group differences. Justify your chosen methodology as best capturing intersecting dynamics.
Analyzing Data Through an Intersectional Lens
How you analyze and present findings is key to an effective intersectional paper. Rather than simply discussing identity factors separately or adding them together:
Analyze how they intersect, combine and mutually constitute one another within your data.
Consider within-group differences based on other identities like socioeconomic status.
Highlight quotes or examples showing the failure of single-axis frameworks to explain experiences.
Discuss marginalization, privilege and oppressions arising specifically from intersections.
Demonstrate an understanding of power dynamics between identities within society/contexts.
Present a coherent narrative focusing on the interactive, mutually reinforcing nature of intersections.
Discussing Intersectional Implications
Thoroughly discuss the implications of your study’s intersectional findings:
How do they further theoretical understanding of your topic through an intersectional lens?
What do they suggest about inequalities, oppressions and experiences within the population?
How can the findings inform development of more equitable policies and programs?
What areas do they highlight needing more intersectional research attention?
Consider limitations and directions for future intersectional research on this topic.
Emphasize the value of intersectional analyses over default single-axis frameworks.
Relate implications back to intersectional theories guiding your study.
This ensures your paper makes a substantive contribution to advancing intersectional scholarship on your research issue or question.
Conclusion
Developing a quality intersectionality research paper requires grappling with complexity, examining how social identities combine rather than function in isolation, and centering voices at the intersections through rigorous data collection and analysis. By following the steps outlined above, researchers can begin to scratch the surface of intersectional lived experiences and move scholarly conversations significantly forward. Intersectionality provides a powerful lens for gaining deeper understanding of inequalities and shaping more just and equitable solutions.
Andrew Stroud