When Kimberly Crenshaw first addressed the concept of intersectionality in the year 1989, it did make a major impact, especially in ruffling the feathers of a society that failed to notice how an individual’s overlapping identities could subject them to inexplicable discrimination and oppression. Although there is much propaganda about the mortifying experiences faced by different communities that have been popularised by many including media, journalists, and social justice advocates, the actual suffering that these community members face does not get voiced.
In the current times, the concept of intersectionality in feminism has been able to garner a lot of attention and many people are trying to dig deeper into this concept to acknowledge the miseries that women have to encounter on the grounds of intersecting aspects like gender and race. Nonetheless, just browsing through history to look for examples of intersectional discrimination is not going to eradicate it from society, nor from the minds of the privileged sections who actually indulge in this act of discriminating the individuals who are diverse in intersecting ways. Therefore, it is important to put into practice the concept of intersectional feminism, and that too with the resolution of helping those people who have been suffering from incomprehensible tyranny over the years, so that a collective effort can be taken to completely wipe out this evil from the society.
Here are the seven steps that can be considered and put into practice the concept of intersectional feminism consistently and effectively:
Be a non-confrontational listener
While reaching out to someone who has been at the receiving end of discrimination or abuse, it is important to have a non-combative approach and give an empathetic nudge so that the person can open up about the torments they have faced. The discussion might reveal that you have been a perpetrator in some way of this cruelty, which might get quite difficult to digest. No matter how uncomfortable the discussion gets, it is mandatory to not deflect from the discussion and look at the situation with profound introspection. Let the person let her or his heart out as much as necessary and give adequate time to the person to open up for it is not very easy to speak about things that are difficult to articulate.
Recognise the struggles
When the person is ready to talk about the countless experiences of being marginalised because of overlapping reasons like a different sexual orientation, racial background, nationality, or economic status quo, it is imperative to identify with the anguishes that the person has passed through. Since the concept of intersectional feminism is ambiguous to a certain degree, especially in terms of its application and definition, pinpointing it precisely might be a bit difficult while talking to someone who has had experiences in this regard. However, it is crucial to identify the intensity of their struggles and take note of it.
Utilize your privilege
It needs to be understood that your personal experiences with intersectional discrimination or lack of it can be a privileging factor that can be wielded to fight for those people who have been repeatedly attacked on grounds of race, gender, culture, and so on so forth. Being a woman in itself is a privilege that, if polished with the genuine belief of feminism can help do advocate the issues faced by the victims of discrimination. It will be easy to become the voice of these sufferers, whose flight goes unnoticed and unheeded by the orthodox and bigoted society.
Be more vocal about the oppression
It cannot be denied that sometimes a few words have the power to dismantle an entire kingdom, where enormous weapons failed to make any impact. If these words are directed at the right place at the right time, it is bound to make a far-reaching impact that can help to address the issues of intersectional discrimination. Nothing can be the greatest display of intersectional feminism in practice than creating a powerful manifesto out of your voice that is bound to penetrate the self-imposed ignorance of society towards the plight of women.
Develop an inclusive perspective
Once a voice is raised against an injustice once meted out to women from the feminist point of view, specifically focusing on the obscure idea of intersectional discrimination, there will be a scope to incorporate the perspectives of people around who may or may not have similar human experiences of discrimination in the past. It is important to have an inclusive approach towards each of these voices to start a realistic movement rooted in the ideologies of intersectional feminism and make an everlasting impact.
Initiate collaborative changes
In the various workplaces or social groups, the idea of intersectionality needs to be addressed where cross-community, cross-issue, and cross-sector collaborations can be encouraged. Socio-political agendas can be developed with the assistance of social activists, cultural workers, lawyers, scholars, and social advocates so that a transformative change can be ushered in to emancipate women from the age-old discriminatory attitudes of society.
Be consistent
In all probabilities, stepping forward to corroborate the ideologies of intersectional feminism in practice will not be an easy task and might be challenged at every turn. However, it is important to stay put and hold the ground consistently against all the negative criticism and retort back with valid viewpoints driven by the enthusiasm to do something good for women and society at large.