What If God ...?

04-12-2021

By Brenda Pogue

I recently researched and gave a presentation on the theory of intersectionality for class. In 1989, Kimberlé Crenshaw coined the term, intersectionality, and developed the concept that she describes as “how race, class, gender, and other individual characteristics ‘intersect’ with one another and overlap.”1 These intersections can lead to multiple levels of discrimination. What I find most fascinating is not merely the theory of intersectionality itself, but the varied social distinctions upon which the theory is based.

For example, a white woman may face sexism, discrimination based on her gender. An Asian-American woman can also face sexism, but she can be doubly discriminated against because of her race as well as her gender, facing both sexism and racism. If she is over a certain age, she can also face ageism. If she is in or outside a particular social economic group, she may experience classism. All of these isms can converge, or intersect, within and upon one body.

Intersectionality and the isms associated with it typically affect those marginalized within our society who are not white, heterosexual and male. Isms subtly and continually expand and intersect into more and more areas of society. Within our culture is heterosexism, antisemitism, patriarchalism, ableism, colonialism, and the list of distinguishing characteristics continues to enter into our society as society moves farther from the boundaries of the privileged. I wonder what has caused this developing phenomenon. What is happening in society that is contributing to the proliferation of the ism? As more of us cry out to be heard, seen, respected, accepted and loved for our differences, and the more we desire to seek individuality in a society of individualism, the more we shout out, “I Should Matter.” And, another I.S.M. comes to the forefront.

As discrimination increases, the fight against it accelerates, becoming a vicious and ongoing cycle of action and reaction. In the process, however, we move further and further from the ism that we each share and need most, humanism. What if God, as we consider this theory of intersectionality, is considered to be centered at the intersection of everything? It is there where we all intersect, and where we all would matter.

1Vox.com., “The intersectionality wars” (accessed April 1, 2021) https://www.vox.com/the-highlight/2019/5/20/18542843/intersectionality-conservatism-law-race-gender-discrimination

Kimberlé Crenshaw (Photo by Nolwen Cifuentes for Vox)