#CSW63 What is 'intersectional'?

Tuesday 11th March 2019

There have been references to the need for intersectional perspective when discussing all of the issues impacting on women's rights.

The first message I understood from #CSW63, its the importance to remember that Women's Rights are Human Rights. As was said at the opening ceremony by the representative of the UN Security Council, it is unacceptable that in 2019 50% of humanity is not afforded the full rights that all humans deserve.

As she said "We can't be happy with this!"

However it's important to note that is a variation of the understanding of the term 'Intersectional'.  It appears in UN language, intersectional is about the experiences and positions that women find themselves in i.e. women refugees, women domestic workers, women social activists.

Alternatively in the UK and the USA when we talk about Intersectionality, its where our cultural and membership of personal communities meet.  These are like 'secret' identities which we use to interact with others inside or outside of those cultural identity.

A few of these include:
Biological Sex
Ethnicity
Sexual Orientation
Gender Identity
Nationality (or country of origin)
Cultural Heritage
Religion
Social/Economic Status


 i.e. a Black (ethnicity) Cis-Woman (gender & biological sex) or a Lesbian (sexual orientation), Indigienous (cultural heritage) Trans-Woman (Gender)  or a Non-Binary (Gender identity) Migrant (nationality or social/economic status)

It is crucial to acknowledge that we all have an intersectional identity, which helps us to decode the world around us and that due to the experiences we have and how we have developed these 'secret identities' means that we may find a commonality with those with similar identities but also due to the mix, we may also have differences.

At the end of the day, we have to give individuals and groups the space to form these identities, acknowledge and amplify their voices irrespective of which 'secret identity' they are wearing that day.

As women activists we have a duty to provide a space for each other where we can learn from all of our experiences, as use these interactions as a way to strengthen the sisterhood.  Through understanding, empathy and compassion we should always find an opportunity to build up another sister's voice.