Intersectionality is a way of understanding how different aspects of a person’s identity, like their race, ethnicity, social class, gender, sexuality, ability, and age, all work together and affect their life experiences. It shows that these parts of someone’s identity are not separate from each other, but they interact and shape how they live and face challenges.
The term “intersectionality” comes from the ideas of critical feminists and race scholars, such as Crenshaw (1991) and Davis (1983). They showed that people’s lives are more complex than what some social science research might suggest. Our experiences cannot be simplified into just one category, like being a certain gender or belonging to a particular social class. Instead, we have multiple aspects of our identity that all come together and influence how we experience the world.
Imagine that each person has different layers of identity. For example, someone can be a female, heterosexual, and middle class all at the same time. These layers combine and affect how they experience life.
Intersectionality helps researchers understand the world better and be more aware of issues like oppression, social justice, and well-being (Cho et al., 2013). When we study sports and physical activities, using an intersectional lens means we consider how different identities intersect and how power dynamics play out. This helps us see where and how people might face discrimination and marginalization in sports (Schinke & McGannon, 2015). By understanding these complexities, we aim to create more inclusive and supportive spaces for athletes with diverse backgrounds and identities.
Cho, S., Crenshaw, K. W., & McCall, L. (2013). Toward a field of intersectionality studies: Theory, applications, and praxis. Signs: Journal of Women in Culture and Society, 38, 785 810.
Crenshaw, K. (1991). Mapping the margins: Intersectionality, identity politics, and violence against women of color. Stanford Law Review, 43, 1241 1299.
Davis, A. Y. (1983). Women, race and class. New York: Vintage Books.
Schinke, R. J., & McGannon, K. R. (2015). Cultural sport psy- chology and intersecting identities: An introduction in the special section. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 17, 45 47.
