-

 BLOG POST                                 Intersectionality



TED TALK/WHEEL OF PRIVILEGE:

 

Ted Talk with Kimberle Crenshaw was truly eye-opening. Prior to watching this talk, I was unaware of the number of black women who have fallen victim to police violence. It is surprising to realize that these stories often go unnoticed but focus on black males in the media surrounding police brutality. Kimberly's talk gave me a better understanding of intersectionality, which is new to me. At first, I found it confusing, but as she explained this term, I began to better understand the overlapping of sexism and racism. This was a reminder of the struggles that black women face, as they not only deal with racial discrimination but also sexism. Kimberly’s talk relates to the wheel of privilege and how these dimensions intersect and interact with one another.

This wheel of privilege helps us recognize the ways in which our own privileges or lack thereof impact our experiences and opportunities. It is very complex but gives us an idea of which individuals have advantages or disadvantages in society. It also shows that privilege can change at any time. From a personal level, I have been a single mother, renting a place, and never married, placing me in the erased category.  However, I am also white, Christian, a citizen, and heterosexual which changes my level of power. 

By categorizing individuals into privileged and oppressed groups, the wheel of privilege fails to recognize the intersections of identity. It overlooks the fact that individuals can be put in multiple categories with both advantages and disadvantages. One of the problems with this wheel is Individuals may see themselves as victims of their social identities. Additionally, the wheel of privilege can lead to the generalization of certain groups, creating an "us against them" mentality and interfering with conversation and understanding between different communities. 


https://www.americanbar.org/news/abanews/aba-news-archives/2023/02/what-is-intersectionality/

 

 

 

Comments

  1. Kayla KelliherOctober 18, 2023 at 6:26 PM

    I can also relate to be in many different areas on the wheel of intersectionality. It really does depend on the seasons of your life. However, I agree that the wheel can be triggering for some and make them feel victimized.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Malcom MonizOctober 24, 2023 at 2:56 PM

    This is such a powerful tool for reflection and for checking your privilege. We get so caught up in our own struggles, that it gets hard to reconcile the fact that many of our problems are only a fraction as serious as those who fall victim to intersectionality. I am thankful to know about this concept, and appreciate your honest reflection.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

-
Image
Blog post #4 Where White Privelege Came From Argument: Blog Post #4 Allan Johnson "Where White Privilege Came From" Argument:  Allan Johnson's argument in his article “Where White Privilege Came From” is that privilege is not something that individuals personally earn, but a result of social systems and structures that benefit certain groups at the expense of others. Johnson discusses the historical connection to the behaviors in different societies. Prior to the British rule over Ireland and the enslavement of Africans in North America, race as we understand it today did not exist. The idea of ‘white' and 'color' labeling individuals was not common. When English migrants arrived in North America, they forced their cultural ideas and beliefs, leading to the subordination of Africans and Native Americans. Social systems can influence and impact individuals. Johnson points out that even among white people, there is a hierarchy and power dynamics. In the 19th cen...
Read more
-
Image
 Jennifer Fortin - A little bit about me! For the past 3 years, I have worked as a substitute teacher for Cedar Elementary School in Warwick which has brought me to the graduate program at RIC. At 45 years old, it took me this long to figure out what I am passionate about and it's working with children. I have a degree in communications and worked in Sales before this transition. I have a 10-year-old daughter with my ex-fiance and I am gaining 3 stepchildren or should I say adults (20,22,24) with my current fiancé. I can't forget my 5th child, my dog Blue. I got engaged last August in Greece and we are getting married at our home in Jamestown on June 8th, 2024. We love to travel with the kids when we can get everyone together. Family is very important to me. Over my summer break, I spent most of my days entertaining my daughter at the beach, with friends, and out on our boat. We just finished building a house in Jamestown which took up a lot of my time. We spent time in the Vin...
Read more