Crenshaw and the birth of "intersectionality."

Intersectionality is the idea that explains how oppression is not a singular issue, but rather a multitude of interwoven issues. One oppression will most likely overlap with another meaning that the oppressed often face struggles on more than one level. For example, women of color face discrimination or harassment for being a woman and being a person of color. Not only may a woman of color hear sexual and inappropriate comments, but also racist remarks.

The word "intersectionality" was created in 1989 by Kimberlé Crenshaw, a civil rights activist and legal scholar. Crenshaw wrote a paper for the University of Chicago Legal Forum, explaining how intersectionality impacts black women. “Because the intersectional experience is greater than the sum of racism and sexism, any analysis that does not take intersectionality into account cannot sufficiently address the particular manner in which Black women are subordinated," she wrote. But Crenshaw did not fail to mention how intersectionality impacts physical ability, race, ethnicity, gender, nationality, politics, citizenship, or socioeconomic status.

Take a look at this video created by The LA Times that explains the harassment and bullying women in politics face at disproportionate rates on social media compared to their male counterparts.

Need a new book to read for the summer? Take a look at Nicole Ellis's book which shares some of the greatest achievements by women of color!

"This Media Insight Project, however, found that while social networks played a preeminent role in the digital lives of Millennials, across all ethnicities, these networks were now far more than social. Millennials are not only consuming news on these social networks; they are consuming more than they intended to when they go on the networks, they are engaging with the news, and they are being exposed to a wider range of topics and opinions than many suspect."

Read the article linked below for more information on how race and ethnicity impact a millennial's use of social media today. Some findings may be surprising.

Thank you to Sophia for sharing your story about what it's like to be a young member of the LGBTQ community and why acceptance no matter a person's race or gender is important.