Question

One obvious consequence of intersectionality is that women's lives (in fact, all lives) are so __________ that we cannot readily make universalizing statements about oppression.

A) Unique
B) Complex
C) Interconnected
D) Diverse
Please select the correct option.

Answer 1

The answer to the student's question is option B) Complex. The concept of intersectionality suggests that because of the diversity and interconnectedness of social identities, it leads to complex experiences that prevent universalizing statements about oppression for any group.

Step-by-step explanation:

One obvious consequence of intersectionality is that women's lives (in fact, all lives) are so complex that we cannot readily make universalizing statements about oppression. The term intersectionality was coined by Kimberlé Crenshaw and expanded upon by feminist sociologist Patricia Hill Collins to describe the interwoven nature of social identities such as race, gender, sexuality, and class, and how these intersections contribute to unique experiences of advantage and oppression.Far from being a unidimensional framework, intersectionality considers the multiplicity of factors that affect individuals' lives. It emphasizes that identity is not a single-plane construct, but a multidimensional one that influences and is influenced by systemic structures of power, privilege, and discrimination. When considering the diversity of experiences and the way in which multiple forms of discrimination may intersect, the complexity of identities becomes evident, thereby challenging any oversimplified or universal assumptions about oppression.