Intersectional Approach to Inequality and How It Works - Literature review Example

Intersectional approach to inequality and how it works Name Institution Date Intersectional approach to inequality and how it works Intersectional approach emerged as a result of the challenges that were faced by “women of colour” and the fact that there was an understanding that their rights were not adequately protected by law given the circumstances that surrounded them at the time. The particular centres of interest were discrimination against race and gender suffered by these women and the women argued that they underwent oppressions in a qualitatively different way (Thomas, 2004). These experiences needed distinct attention so as to actually see the manner in which gender, race, and class, as different categories, were not truly parallel but had a common point of intersection and confirmed each other (Espiritu, 2000). According to Winker and Degele (2011), intersectionality, in its current version, denominates reciprocities between class, gender and race, but again allows the integration of several other social categories, like sexuality, age or nationality. Instead of simply summarizing the effects a few oppressive categories, the concept of intersectionality stresses the interrelated nature of all these categories as well as how the categories can strengthen or weaken one another (Glenn, 2002). It’s all inclusive approach has the potential to go beyond the various theoretical currents, offering up further perspectives for development and utilization (Busche et al, 2012). Choo & Ferree (2010), while analysing the concept from a sociologist’s perspective investigates intersectionality as a methodical and theoretical approach to inequality. They further highlight the dimensions of theorizing that are now part of the meaning of intersectionality: the significance of a perspective that includes multiply-marginalised people; a shift from inclusion of multiple independent inequality strands toward a transformation of their major effects into interactions; and a focus on considering multiple institutions as dependant in their co-determination of inequalities to give complex configurations from the beginning, as opposed to “extra” interactive processes that get added to the main effects. The methodical approach centres on differences of experience within a category, often generating lists of the groups to be included and debates over the intersectional location given priority over the others. However, if intersectionality gets theorised as a characteristic of the social word, the analysis must give a method that will apply to all social phenomena, and not simply the inclusion of a specifically subordinated group (Choo & Ferree, 2010). Striving to incorporate intersectional approach into practice raises the fact that identities and standpoints have the tendency to get articulated in fixed ways, constructed notions of experience and subjectivity forming the basis upon which groups are mobilised. It will usually be the case when the oppressed have the intentions of forming alliances in desperate circumstance, when faced with extremely powerful opponents (Sara et al, 2011). How Intersectional approach works Intersectionality has proven to be a central tool of analysis that hopes to bring positive changes to the policies. According to Crenshaw and McCall, this concept represents the relationships among several dimensions of social relations. McCall however tries to present more than one approaches to the study of the concept while Crenshaw focuses on one method that she uses to document relationships of inequality. McCall (2005) identifies three methodological approaches in her analysis of intersectionality: anticategirical complexity, interacategirical complexity and intircategorical complexity. Anti-categorical complexity is a deconstruction of analytical categories including age and gender. This approach focuses on the manner in which terms, categories and concepts are constructed. It is usually applied in the fields of literary and historical sciences. Here, difference stands in the foreground and not identity, which usually causes empirical research and group construction problematic. Intracategorical complexity, on the other hand considers particular social groups existing at neglected points of intersection. It is a marriage of anticategorical and intercategorical complexities and as Ludvig (2006) and Harvey (2005) point out, it is concerned with reconstruction of intersections of single dimensions on a micro level. The approach can however lead to continued reduction of the significance of group identification within the research. Lastly, intercategorical complexity uses categories, and investigates the relations of several inequalities between socially constructed groups. Walby (2009) observes that the approach leans towards category relationships, majorly in qualitative research. And as mentioned by McCall (2001), this approach may be useful in modelling income-indicators as well as income differences between social groups. Intersectional analysis in eight steps i. Describing the identity constructions Hankivsky et al (2011) discusses that much of the feminist analysis using the intersectionality approach focuses on social groups or individual marked as oppressed. That is the main subject of the analysis is usually a group at a neglected common point of intersecting categories, or a given social setting or even ideological construction, or both. The analysis will often occur through a case study or by other means and will focus on third world women, black women, indigenous women and so forth either as a group or as individuals. ii. Identifying symbolic representations The analysis such groups does not result to reconstructible identity-constructions, but also the values and norms operating within the society, which may be hegemonic representations, or values and norms that result to opposing public socio-political movements. This step therefore aims at making all norms, identities and values to which the individual refers, explicit. iii. Finding references to social structures These practices as well as the identity constructions associated with them (the macro level) will be influenced by social institutions and structure (macro and meso level). The social practices, however, also refer to the social structures, and these references must be discovered. iv. Denominating interrelations of central categories on the three levels This step involves gathering those categories from multitude of categories of differentiation which are significant to the interviewee, including the level of identity. It is important to find out the most important subject constructions as well as their interrelatedness and conflicts. v. Comparing and clustering of subject constructions For the purposes of this step, it is required that the areas of subject matter be divided on the basis of certain feature into types or groups. The types generated in this step resemble each other have resemblance to one another than the others with regard to specific features. The groups therefore must show the highest possible homogeneity, on one hand , and on the other hand, be characterised by given level of external heterogeneity when compared to one another. vi. Supplementing structural data and analysing power relations This step draws further data sources on for the analysis. This is instrumental because respondents will usually mention framework requirements, but may not go deeper into the subject. Other times, they may just depict them wrongly, requiring further research. vii. Deepening the analysis of denominated representations Certain results from an interview will be symbolic representations of other concepts to the values and norms the interviewees have to deal with and may not be directly understood. This step tries to make an understanding of the ideologies that prevail in certain contexts by looking into additional data sources like advertising, mass media, literature materials or photographic materials viii. Elaborating interrelations in the overall demonstration This step investigates the interrelations and the different emphases of the dimensions of inequality and the power relations. The aim is to achieve a generalization beyond the particular case and type. Intersectional approach analysis of the News Item The analysis for the news article is presented below. Given the nature of the article and the scale of analysis possible this case, the analysis is summaries in fewer number of steps. These steps are highlighted and then discussed below: a) Identities of individuals and social groups This analysis focuses on illiterate third world women who have been denied the right to education and have been traditionally manipulated in their indigenous nation. These are women staying right in their homes and have to deal with several challenges presented to them by the society b) Categories of difference The subjects of this analysis are female and are Indian nationalities. Though the country boasts of highly powerful and rich women, with a good number occupying respectable positions in government and organizations, nearly one-third of grown up women do not have basic education, and these are the focus of the analysis. c) Process of Differentiation and Systems of Domination These women have been on the receiving end of gender biasness that has seen them treated as less equal to their male counterparts. Female children are therefore not readily taken to school and even if they did get education, they may not be guaranteed a job. The result has been a large illiteracy level within girls and women in India, with very few getting jobs. The society has also encouraged this since women in these communities are not considered to have rights and the man is final. Men on the other hand have found favour in the cultural setting. Boys are taken to school and find better jobs and therefore remain dominant and authoritative. Women have, therefore, had to remain dependant and submissive to their husbands even when their humanity is violated. This is a country where selective abortion is high and spousal rape is not a crime. Indigenous Indian women have therefore been victims of a huge variety of discriminations and other social injustices for a long time. d) Elaborating interrelations in the overall demonstration This is a case where women do not have a voice. They have remained illiterate and have been discriminated against both at school and in the job market. The result has been deterioration of their education standards and their knowledge of what they could have stood for. They have therefore remained locked in this state of helplessness without hope of coming out from the situation any time soon. References Winker G. & Degele N, (2011). Intersectionality as multi-level analysis: Dealing with social inequality. European Journal of Women’s Studies: 18(1) 51–66. Glenn E.N. (2002). Unequal Freedom: How Race and Gender Shaped American Citizenship and Labor. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press. Choo H. Y. & Ferree M. M. (2010). Practicing Intersectionality in Sociological Research: A Critical Analysis of Inclusions, Interactions, and Institutions in the Study of Inequalities. Sociological Theory 28:2. Espiritu Y. L. (2000). Asian American Women and Men. Walnut Creek, CA: Altamira Press. McCall L (2001) Complex Inequality: Gender, Class, and Race in the New Economy. New York: Routledge. McCall L (2005) The complexity of intersectionality. Signs. Journal of Women in Culture and Society. 30(3): 1771–1800. Sara et al. (2011). Feminism, women’s movements and women in movement. Interface: a journal for and about social movements. Volume 3 (2): i – iv. Walby S (2009) Globalization and Inequalities: Complexity and Contested Modernities. London: Sage. Thomas S. (2004). “Intersectionality: The double bind of race and gender: An interview with Kimberle Crenshaw, who coined the term” Perspectives, 12 (4), Spring. 4-7. Busche et al. (2012). An Intersectional Perspective in Social Work and Education. ERIS web journal: 1. Ludvig A (2006) Intersecting voices in a female narrative. European Journal of Women’s Studies. 13(3): 245–258. Harvey AM (2005) Becoming entrepreneurs: Intersections of race, class, and gender at the black beauty salon. Gender and Society 19(6): 789–808. Moreton-Robinson A. (2000). “Conclusion: Talkin’ up to the White Woman” in Talkin’ up to the White Woman, St Lucia, Queensland University Press: 179, 186. Hankivsky et al (2011). Health Inequities in Canada: Intersectional Frameworks and Practices. 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How Intersectional approach works Intersectionality has proven to be a central tool of analysis that hopes to bring positive changes to the policies. According to Crenshaw and McCall, this concept represents the relationships among several dimensions of social relations. McCall however tries to present more than one approaches to the study of the concept while Crenshaw focuses on one method that she uses to document relationships of inequality. McCall (2005) identifies three methodological approaches in her analysis of intersectionality: anticategirical complexity, interacategirical complexity and intircategorical complexity.

Anti-categorical complexity is a deconstruction of analytical categories including age and gender. This approach focuses on the manner in which terms, categories and concepts are constructed. It is usually applied in the fields of literary and historical sciences. Here, difference stands in the foreground and not identity, which usually causes empirical research and group construction problematic. Intracategorical complexity, on the other hand considers particular social groups existing at neglected points of intersection.

It is a marriage of anticategorical and intercategorical complexities and as Ludvig (2006) and Harvey (2005) point out, it is concerned with reconstruction of intersections of single dimensions on a micro level. The approach can however lead to continued reduction of the significance of group identification within the research. Lastly, intercategorical complexity uses categories, and investigates the relations of several inequalities between socially constructed groups. Walby (2009) observes that the approach leans towards category relationships, majorly in qualitative research.

And as mentioned by McCall (2001), this approach may be useful in modelling income-indicators as well as income differences between social groups. Intersectional analysis in eight steps i. Describing the identity constructions Hankivsky et al (2011) discusses that much of the feminist analysis using the intersectionality approach focuses on social groups or individual marked as oppressed. That is the main subject of the analysis is usually a group at a neglected common point of intersecting categories, or a given social setting or even ideological construction, or both.

The analysis will often occur through a case study or by other means and will focus on third world women, black women, indigenous women and so forth either as a group or as individuals. ii. Identifying symbolic representations The analysis such groups does not result to reconstructible identity-constructions, but also the values and norms operating within the society, which may be hegemonic representations, or values and norms that result to opposing public socio-political movements. This step therefore aims at making all norms, identities and values to which the individual refers, explicit. iii. Finding references to social structures These practices as well as the identity constructions associated with them (the macro level) will be influenced by social institutions and structure (macro and meso level).

The social practices, however, also refer to the social structures, and these references must be discovered. iv. Denominating interrelations of central categories on the three levels This step involves gathering those categories from multitude of categories of differentiation which are significant to the interviewee, including the level of identity. It is important to find out the most important subject constructions as well as their interrelatedness and conflicts. v. Comparing and clustering of subject constructions For the purposes of this step, it is required that the areas of subject matter be divided on the basis of certain feature into types or groups.

The types generated in this step resemble each other have resemblance to one another than the others with regard to specific features. The groups therefore must show the highest possible homogeneity, on one hand , and on the other hand, be characterised by given level of external heterogeneity when compared to one another. vi.

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