When you hear the word intersectionality, what comes to mind? Maybe it feels like one of those academic buzzwords that people throw around, but here’s the truth: intersectionality is a powerful lens for understanding the world. Coined by scholar Kimberlé Crenshaw, it’s all about how different aspects of our identities—like race, gender, sexuality, or disability—overlap and create unique experiences of privilege or discrimination.
In advocacy work, ignoring intersectionality is like trying to build a house without a foundation. It might look okay on the surface, but it’ll crumble the moment you face any pressure. True justice requires recognizing that people don’t exist in neat little boxes. Here’s why intersectionality is essential if we’re serious about creating real, lasting change:
We’re More Than One Identity
Think about your own life. Are you defined by just one part of who you are? Of course not. You’re a mix of experiences, identities, and challenges that shape your perspective.
The same goes for the people we’re advocating for. For example, a Latina woman’s experiences aren’t just about her ethnicity or her gender—they’re about how those two identities interact in her daily life. Intersectional advocacy means taking all these layers into account, not just picking one to focus on.
Oppressions Don’t Work in Isolation
Racism, sexism, ableism, classism—none of these systems exist on their own. They overlap and reinforce each other in ways that make life even harder for people at the intersections. For instance, a Black trans woman might face barriers in employment not just because she’s Black, not just because she’s trans, but because those identities combine to create unique challenges.
If we’re not paying attention to these overlaps, we’re not addressing the whole problem. And if we’re not addressing the whole problem, how can we create solutions that actually work?
Who Are We Really Fighting For?
Advocacy that doesn’t center the most marginalized people in a community isn’t really advocacy—it’s performative. It’s easy for the loudest, most privileged voices to dominate the conversation, even within marginalized groups. But we can’t claim to fight for justice if we’re leaving out the people who need it most.
Intersectional advocacy means putting those voices front and center. It means asking, “Who’s being overlooked here?” and making sure they’re not just included, but prioritized.
How We Can Do Better Together
Intersectionality isn’t just a concept—it’s a practice. Here are a few ways to weave it into your work:
- Get Curious: Take the time to learn about the unique challenges different communities face. Look at how issues like poverty, racism, or ableism intersect instead of treating them like separate problems.
- Build Bridges: Team up with people and organizations working on related issues. For example, if you’re focused on education reform, think about how housing insecurity or systemic racism might be affecting the communities you’re trying to help.
- Be Inclusive from the Start: Whether you’re planning a campaign, writing policy, or designing a program, ask yourself, “Who might be left out here?” Make sure your work is accessible, representative, and adaptable.
- Stay Humble: We don’t know what we don’t know, and that’s okay. The best way to learn is by listening to the people living these experiences every day. Let their stories and needs guide your approach.
Justice That Uplifts Everyone
Intersectionality isn’t about complicating advocacy—it’s about making it stronger. When we acknowledge and address the full picture of someone’s identity, we’re able to create solutions that actually work.
Here’s the bottom line: justice that only serves some of us isn’t justice at all. If we want true equity, we have to fight for it at all levels and in all its complexities. The beauty of intersectionality is that it reminds us we’re all connected—and when we work to lift the most marginalized, we lift everyone.
It’s not about being perfect. It’s about doing the work, asking the hard questions, and showing up in ways that make advocacy meaningful.
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