Final answer:
Intersection theory is a framework that posits that attributes like race, class, gender, and sexual orientation intersect to create unique experiences of oppression. Originating from feminist sociology, it emphasizes the multidimensional nature of discrimination, where an individual's multiple identities impact their life comprehensively.
Step-by-step explanation:
Intersection theory, developed by feminist sociologist Patricia Hill Collins and first articulated by Kimberlé Crenshaw, is a theoretical framework that highlights that various aspects of social identity, including race, class, gender, sexual orientation, and other attributes, do not exist independently of each other. Instead, these facets interconnect and contribute to unique experiences of oppression and privilege. As an example, the experience of a White woman will differ significantly from that of an Asian woman living in poverty, due to the intersectionality of race, gender, and class, highlighting layered forms of prejudice.
Critical race and gender theory underscores the importance of intersectionality, asserting that people often belong to multiple minority groups simultaneously, thereby experiencing compound forms of discrimination. In understanding social inequality, we cannot merely consider a single factor but must look at the intersection of various identity characteristics which collectively influence an individual's life. Conflict theory further emphasizes how these interconnected social identities are frequently at odds with the power structures and institutionalized norms that sustain societal inequalities.