Crenshaw (1991) argues that identity politics often fails to acknowledge differences within groups. This is particularly important in terms of legal and political responses to violence against women of color. Crenshaw (1991) argues that the experiences of women of color are often ignored, misrepresented, or silenced due to the narrow lenses of race or gender. Instead, Crenshaw (1991) proposes, we should use an intersectional lens to highlight the ways that patriarchy and racism interact to form unique experiences of oppression.
1. Identity politics ignore intragroup differences.
2. Effects of patriachal oppression are exacerbated by effects of racist oppression.
Crenshaw (1991) specifically discusses the ways that structural racism make domestic violence even more dangerous. For example, racism may prevent a Black woman from being able to financially support herself. This could trap her in the abusive situation in a way that it might not for a White woman. Intersectionality is not adding together axes of oppression. It is recognizing the interactions between oppressions.
3. Identities are socially constructed, but we should still organize around them.
Crenshaw (1991) is concerned about the material impacts of intersectional identities. She fears that we will avoid addressing these impacts because we are trying not to reify social categories. She suggests viewing identity categories as coalitions rather than discrete groups.
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