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Intersectionality Reflection

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It is not uncommon to have both privileged and oppressed social identities. As an able-bodied heterosexual black female, I experience this phenomenon which is better known as intersectionality. I am made aware of some of the hardships that people with disabilities face because I am close to someone who is bound to a wheelchair. Since I also enjoy the privileges of being heterosexual and I wanted a completely different experience, I decided to focus my plunge on the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer/Questioning and others (LGBTQ+) community. In doing so, the three events I attended were the Amateur Drag Show hosted by the Pride Student Union, Understanding Intersectionality co-hosted by the Black Student Union and the Pride Student Union, …show more content…

Understanding Intersectionality: A Conversation between BSU and Pride discussed topics such as racism in LGBTQ+ space, exclusion within people of color (POC) spaces, gender expressions/roles, and issues within the community. Before the discussion started, I was interested in hearing more about first-hand experiences of what it is like to be a member of the LGBTQ+ community and African American. At the same time I must admit that I was more interested in going back to my dorm because it was Thursday night so that meant my Thank God It’s Thursday shows (Scandal and How to Get Away with Murder) were coming on with new episodes. However, once the conversation started television became a distant thought. I always figured it had to be difficult to be both black and non-heterosexual because that meant double strikes by your name from society; triple strikes if you are female. Turns out I was right. The first thing I noticed was the room looked segregated, with black student union members on one side and the LGBTQ+ members on the other. I doubt that it was planned that way, maybe people just wanted to sit with their friends but, I just thought it would be interesting to note. As an ice-breaker, we played identity bingo. The objective of the game was to find different people who knew facts like ‘I know what Ball Culture is’ and ‘I know where the BSU House is located’. I thought this was a great way to have some one-on-one interactions and give the atmosphere a friendly vibe. With everyone feeling engaged, the conversation began. I never realized the importance of pronouns until it was brought up. For example, if someone was biologically male, I would call them ‘sir’, ‘him’ ‘he’, etc. I never thought that someone may not appreciate me calling them that because the truth is not everybody is cisgender. Another great topic discussed was hyper

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In “Intersectional Resistance and Law Reform,” Dean Spade proposes that the United States was founded through “racialization…(which) continues to operate under new guises… that produce, manage, and deploy gender categories and sexuality and family norms” (16). More over, these laws and norms tend to maintain the “status quo,” and employ an inherently flawed justice system that is only equipped to address single-axis discrimination issues (5). Thus, the intersectionality movement is largely dismissed by the social and justice systems, as it utilizes “critical intersectional tools… that are often (too) difficult for legal scholars to comprehend” (17). Interstionality’s progress is also impeded by advocates leaving to support single-axis issues. However, Spade warns that this approach is ineffective, as it fails to protect the most marginalized members of society.

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This question poses an interesting discourse based on the intersectionality

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An event that we held as the Hmong Organization Promoting Education, we talked about Building Our Future. This event focused on the international abusive marriages within the Hmong community and I had discussed with other Hmong male-identifying students what we could do to support the Hmong women and those who identify as Hmong LGBTQ+. From this event, I began developing my social justice identity and gradually started engaging in discussions with social justice topics such as privilege, prejudice, and many more. It eventually led me to pursuing a Racial and Ethnic studies minor that has contributed greatly to my knowledge of institutional influences and the inequalities that exist within American society. With all this previous experience that I have done, I hope to engage in discussions and events with community members and professionals in raising awareness of social justice and mental health

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As a gay Asian man from a low-income and immigrant family, I have obtained an intersection of various perspectives. I have had many obstacles in my life, such as coming out, struggling financially, and helping my parents navigate this country. These obstacles have provided perspectives that many individuals may not have acquired. They motivate me to help those with similar circumstances to lead happy lives. Providing these different perspectives to Temple University’s student body allows the community to see the diverse aspects of others and to understand more of the various circumstances and complexity of human life.

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The Diversity University event was not what I expected it to be. In fact, I had no idea what it was about at all. I literally went around campus to see if anything exciting was going on. I was curious and I saw a promotion board outside of my residence hall. Immediately, I walked over to the Rayburn Student Center where the event was taking place.

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Intersectionality is when there is other problematic society that affects a certain group of people within society is interconnected. The minority may all belong to the same group but yet there are many categories within that group that also deal with more than one form of oppression. In the article, the author makes valid points of the daily struggles of being a woman in society but also shines light on the issue that she also faces other forms of oppression because of her skin color. To the average white woman, the only form of institutionalized oppression they experience is solely gender based and therefore they tend to dismiss the idea that other races and religious fight for equality is much more intense. Intersectionality also contends

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By acknowledging and understanding the privileges of my White identity, such as my cultural capital, I hope to change how I perceive issues and interactions with students throughout my future in higher

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Without applying intersectionality in analysis, oppression can only be understood in general terms, which can cause forms of oppression to become undetected (Mattsson, 2014). Instead, intersectionality, demonstrates the complexity of gender, sexuality, class, and race avoiding stereotypes as a whole, rather than simplifying an individual based on one characteristic (Mattsson, 2014). For example, when I was working at a Community Centre in the Jane and Finch area, I had a conversation with my co-worker. He described the barriers and struggles he has faced because of his race and socioeconomic status. It was through this conversation that I realized the pre-conceived notions my co-worker had about me, as a white individual who did not grow-up in the same neighbourhood.

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I am a white bisexual feminist in a heterosexual common-law marriage working towards my undergraduate degree in sociology. This description is quite loaded and if I were to read it as anyone else's definition than mine I would see this as very elitist, but it is hard to think of myself in that way. Aside from my education, my race and sexuality affect how I can empathize with Sarah and Lavinia separately. Although I am queer like the both of them, I do not truly understand Sarah's struggle with maintaining an educated manner as to not further embarrass Chandin (because he is already embarrassed by her race). Queerness does not give Sarah, Lavinia and myself the same experiences.

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Transgender is the term used to describe an individual whose gender identity does not align with their sex assigned at birth. The documentary, “Growing up Trans”, is a sensitive clip to watch about young youths who attempt to navigate family, friends, gender, and the medical decisions they face at puberty. “Growing up Trans” focuses mainly on transitioned young youths. The transgender youth from the documentary links to many theories from chapter eight. Theories such as socialization, gender, sexuality, homophobia, transphobia, and microaggression are associated with “Growing up Trans”.

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Examine how intersectionality is being recognised as a valuable normative and research paradigm for furthering understandings of the complexity of gender heath inequities in Africa Intersectionality describes ways in which certain social identities such as race, ethnicity, gender and class affects an individual’s experience. These same categories are used to reflect systems of oppression and privilege. Intersectionality provides the context for understanding that people’s health cuts across many lived experiences (Bowleg, 2012). Much of public health however does not acknowledge health differences as they speak on each identity independently. Because the term women and minorities has become the centre in public health discourse and research,

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I went out in downtown Toronto in an area referred to as "The Gay Village" and went to a drag show, as well as, a gay bar. Growing up in Brooks, Alberta there wasn't many opportunities to learn about the LBGTQ+ community and their culture. When I first got to the bar I was hesitant and felt awkward as the bar was primarily filled with males. Once I sat down to watch the drag queens perform I realised how lively and vibrant the drag queens were as individuals; these traits were especially portrayed in their comedy acts as they involved the audience a lot. It wasn't until the drag queen Vitality Black asked me where I was from that I got really nervous and felt awkward for being there but after saying I was from Lethbridge, Alberta a group of four individuals from across the bar cheered.

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I define intersectionality as having different life experiences and multiple identities that intersect. For example, the EOP program here on campus helps students who are first generation college students. They often have specific needs and obstacles. These students are sometimes below the poverty line. These two identities intersect because having family members who have never been to college often results in making less money which limits the chances of their children going to school.

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All the victims speaking up for the movement indicates that they will no longer tolerate the silencing of their voices because of political and social power. The movement is a great example of how intersectionality is considered in modern day issues and is a very effective tool for creating consideration of all factors in

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The term “safe space”, a supposed haven where students of minority and marginalization can feel free to express their ideas and be themselves has started a movement across college campuses nationwide. The newfangled movement is driven largely by students who wish to scrub campuses clean of offensive or discomforting topics. Safe spaces emerged during the post-Civil Rights era where women, LGBTQ, and racial minorities grew in presence on campuses; however, today they serve as refuges for like-minded people who don’t feel the need to explain or defend their personal beliefs. Recently, the safe space debate has taken a controversial turn: arguments and cases have been created over whether safe spaces provide a supportive environment or cultivate

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