Final answer:
Intersectionality is the recognition of intertwined social identities (race, class, gender, etc.) that collectively affect a person's experiences with privilege and discrimination. The term was coined by Kimberlé Crenshaw and underscores the complexity of identity-based oppression and the necessity to consider multiple identities simultaneously.
Step-by-step explanation:
Intersectionality is the idea that one's identity is based on many factors such as class, education, sex, sexual orientation, political orientation, and personal history, in addition to race. This theory suggests that we cannot separate the effects of race, class, gender, sexual orientation, and other attributes because they interconnect to define our experiences and interactions with systems of power. As such, our identities are the result of complex and ever-changing interactions between our biological, psychological, and social states. Intersectionality emphasizes that our experiences of privilege or discrimination are due to the overlapping or intersecting of our multiple social identities and their relation to power structures in society.
The term intersectionality was officially coined by critical race theorist and legal scholar Kimberlé Crenshaw in 1989. It was developed to highlight that people often belong to more than one oppressed group and that these overlapping identities must be considered to understand the complexity of discrimination and privilege. For instance, the concept of intersectionality helps in recognizing that a Black woman's experience cannot be fully understood by looking at race and gender independently; one must consider how these identities interact and often reinforce one another.
Considering our multiple identities, such as race, class, gender, and sexual orientation, is crucial as they relate to systems of power and influence our lived experiences differently depending on the context. It's important to acknowledge that people may experience both advantages (privileges) and disadvantages (discrimination) due to their intersecting identities, and this can change from one situation to another.