Intersectionality Feminism

In chapter five of Oluo’s book we start to discuss intersectionality. Intersectionality, as Oluo describes it, is “the belief that our social justice movements must consider all of the intersections of identity, privilege, and oppression that people face in order to be just and effective” (Oluo 74). This is explaining that you have to acknowledge the plethora of identities that are within each individual. If we want to come to the root of all the issues in an effective manner it is impossible without intersectionality. It plays a crucial implicit role in our everyday lives that is brushed over by society. Ramsey explains this very vividly by using a very effective visual model of feminist women and subsequently dividing into subsections of women in categories like age, race, women of color, transgender, etc. One aspect that I noticed during Ramsey’s video is that they were very objective in explaining the definition of intersectionality. They began broad using the feminists movements as a whole for their example and even criticized the feminist movements for “having a bad habit of leaving behind” when referring to the vital sub-categories of women. Later following up with “how are you supposed to have a movement supporting women if it is not for all women.” A prime example of intersectionality in pop culture today would be the cliques that are inevitably created in high school. People of different personalities, hobbies, ambitions and such all organically formulate into microcosms of a group identity.

I find intersectionality to be inseparable when having an argument with a comparable magnitude and complexity of racism. It is very useful and it does have its respective time and place for it to occur. However, I think it is counterproductive when individuals begin to exaggerate and get carried away with specific systematic oppressions to which there was no proof to begin with. In the midst of today’s social environment it is important to have confidence and not cower or hide behind a hypothetical front as an excuse to stay away from confrontation. In my opinion, to keep a functional and efficient society in place, one should accept and embrace their role of responsibility in the world.