A Response to Kimberle` Crenshaw's "Mapping the Margins"

In Kimberle` Crenshaw’s 1991 essay “Mapping the Margins,” specific systems of oppression are shown to coincide with one another and overlap in specific ways, which are labeled intersectionality. Concepts of gender, race, education, class, and immigration status are often looked upon singularly. Unfortunately, considering each of these concepts alone does not adequately address issues for women of color. Each concept is limited in scope.  Crenshaw argues that violence against women of color cannot be fully addressed without recognizing how these intersecting identities contribute to distinct forms of marginalization.  She states, “Because of their intersectional identity as both women and of color within discourses that are shaped to respond to one or the other, women of color are marginalized within both” (Crenshaw 1244).

Within the mainstream feminist movements of the mid-20^th and early 21^st centuries, the experiences of white, middle-class women are centralized. This leads to barriers like systemic racism and immigration status that affect women of color who are looking for support. The prioritization of the protection of men of color against state violence in the antiracist movements then tends to downplay gender-based violence within those communities. As Crenshaw notes, “Although racism and sexism readily intersect in the lives of real people, they seldom do in feminist and antiracist practices” (p. 1242). Embracing intersectionality would lead to a more inclusive approach, urging each movement to compound and recognize the realities women of color face. With intersectionality’s integration, addressing efforts against violence can become more responsive with time, ultimately ensuring no woman is left without community support and protection.