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What strategies and policies have proven effective at addressing intersectionality of gender with race/ethnicity, ability, age and other factors as well as the experience of those with diverse gender identities? What are the greatest challenges to these strategies and tools; and how can they be mitigated?
Centering intersection gender lens and mainstreaming have become a box ticking exercise and perfunctory extrapolation of intersectional segments. Sometimes, we consider intersectionality as linear with single and distinct characteristics. It's therefore more important than ever that global diverse identities with lived experiences are heard and understood in conversations about intersectionality, in order to design a better and safer world that truly, not only leaves no one behind, but brings and uplifts people alongside. That was the message and what was achieved at the Problem-Solving Lab: Strategies, and Mitigation policies effective at addressing intersectionality of gender with race/ethnicity, ability, age and other factors, hosted at the Health and Economic Well-being: Gender Equity in Post-Pandemic Rebuilding program by Salzburg Global Seminar, in Salzburg, Austria.
"The solution lies in re-centering the needs of diverse group"
"Intersectionality has become a single buzzword form. While it has proven to be a useful tool for highlighting multiple forms of discrimination and how they intersect, we need to give a broader picture on the nuances of the lived experiences of intersectional segments. Be it race, gender, and ethnicity. The solution lies in re-centering the needs of diverse group” said Jocelyn Frye, president of the National Partnership for Women & Families with an opening statement at the problem-solving lab.
Furthermore, some of the development principles included, asking important and challenging questions such as how centralized or diverse should intersection be? So much contradiction is embedded in the themed question of intersection depending on the lens being used. Krishanti Dharmaraj, Executive Director, Center for Women's Global Leadership, New Brunswick, NJ, USA highlighted the ideology, assumption bias and institutionalized polarizations for intersection. "Even the most seemingly straightforward ideas and words can contain quite diverse and even incompatible assumptions and expectations, depending on the people ‘in the room'."
True to form, considering the existing framework that we have - from our culture, our politics, policy, law and interaction - do not automatically lead people to being conversant and literate in intersectionality or want to make changes. Understanding the need to shift repressive power dynamics can strengthen the rights and influence of those most affected by inequities, violence, oppression and injustice across the globe. We need to reimagine not just what intersection should look like but what it can potentially be as a lens for seeing the world of oppression and a tool for eradicating it.
"People with problems are not problem people"
Most of the time, intersectionality co-exists and overlaps with marginalization. People with problems are not problem people. Seeing people as rights holders (as opposed to beneficiaries) in shared spaces, communities and institutions has the potential to uphold gender and intersectional equality. This approach demands not just seeing them as "marginalized" communities but equal and deserving communities.
"While we may all be weathering the same storm, we are in drastically different boats with more cushioning effect than others"
Structural inequality is embedded in our society, and it requires bold, concerted action to eliminate it. "There are many many different kinds of intersectional exclusion — not just black women, but other women of color. Not just people of color, but immigrants, indigenous people and ethnic minority group,” says Professor Jarpa Dawuni, Associate Professor, Howard University, Washington, DC, USA. While we may all be weathering the same storm, we are in drastically different boats with more cushioning effects than others. For example, within gender and Intersection, an Asian woman will likely have a very different experience than a black African woman living in the United States.
Council of Women Leaders Secretary General Laura Liswood’s words set the tone during the program, as she talked about earning "two points for identifying the problem, eight for finding a solution”, and moving beyond the illusion of “building back better: strategies to re-envision intersectionality.”
Our conception of “intersection” and what counts must change, to include the centrality of multiple forms of intersecting inequality. The awareness of what we bring to the conversations and groups we find ourselves in is always worthwhile, helping us identity and talk through sometimes subtle yet substantial differences in how we understand the problems and worlds around us.
The "Simultaneousity" as coined by Jarpa Dawuni during the problem-solving lab simply means doing different things at the same time, directing struggle and support, and not wait until we achieve one victory before commencing the journey of another struggle. Demanding healthy and meaningful conversations from ourselves and the spaces we’re in is one vital step in being part of an equitable, just and sustainable present and future for all.
Valuing voice means lifting up, promoting, and supporting the leadership and storytelling of those most affected by policies and practices. Lebohang Liepollo Pheko, Senior Research Fellow, Trade Collective, Johannesburg, South Africa emphasized that we are in a unique moment, "where we need to value voices, promote and support leadership of diverse voices." This applies to many situations where underrepresented or historically excluded people are asked to participate in an activity or contribute to a project.
Too often they are still included only for tokenized participation, conferred with "the first black or women of color label" and without much context to give their perspective that’s supposed to represent the "intersection voice." "You cannot be at the forefront of a cause where you don’t identify with its struggles and possess lived experiences." Respect the voice of those most affected by issues by centering their voices, respecting their goals for their communities, and stepping aside and allowing them to serve as spokespeople for their own causes.
We need data, and storytelling narratives for evaluation "Where we can hear from people telling their own stories of intersectionality and ways they have felt accepted or rejected based on their unique experience and factoring all this in,” said Teresa Younger, President and CEO, Ms. Foundation for Women, Brooklyn, United States with inspiring and final words. “We need to embrace and welcome these differences to continue building balance that can overcome the times we are living in especially when looking at intersectionality. For example, the experiences of racism and sexism intersect and create unique experiences for black women and women of color, leading to varied compounded, systemic barriers.
“Contextualizing gender, intersectionality and human rights in a development paradigm promotes a balance for multi-strengthened synergy. We are all in the fight together and should develop narratives that push intersection in a way that perhaps before we were not able to push and ensure everyone is brought along. Building community and encouraging alliances, coalitions, critical reflection, collaboration across sectors, and looking out for each other will help us solve problems. That’s why this conversation is happening at the right time and we need to have more conversations like it.”
Taofeekat Adigun is a public health and development specialist working at the intersection of policy, advocacy and research. She currently leads Outreach and Partnership for Our Generation for Inclusive Peace.