Intersectionality Case

Intersectionality

Intersectionality refers to the ways race, class, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, ability, status and other markers of differences intersect to inform individual realities and lived experiences. It recognizes that individuals and groups are shaped by multiple and intersecting identities.

In one of our class lectures we discussed the diversity wheel. Any one of the areas on the wheel could impact my life, but the areas that meant the most to me is my physical appearance and abilities, my gender and my race. Looking at the diversity wheel I could have chosen any of the areas and have them impact my life. But I chose the latter because these areas impact my life the most.

For my entire life I have always been physically fit, and even at 56 years of age I am still in great shape. My physical qualities and athletic abilities greatly impact who I am today because when you look good and excel at sports people want to be around you, and want to be your friend. I was homecoming queen throughout my high school years and I truly believe that it was because of my good looks and outgoing personality. Also, when you are 'fine and fly' males tend to be more attracted to you. I also participated in numerous sports and was pretty good, which made me more visible, and thus more friends. This is how my physical appearance and athletic abilities have impacted my life.

Looking at gender I can see a few ways that it has impacted my life. First off, some people tend to give me no respect because of my gender, women and men alike for whatever reason they may have. Some men don't tend to respect women as much as they do other men. And some women don't respect other women because of some form of prejudice. However, I feel that because I am female I process many features that are huge to whom I am and my personality is the way it is because of my gender. If I were male my personality would be completely different. I would talk differently, joke around differently and have all different friends. My life would be completely different if I were male.

Race was the most obvious choice on the diversity wheel for me. Being black whether female or male is a hindrance in society today, yesterday and will be tomorrow, because we are still discriminated against throughout America. People look at black people differently because that's how the world is and probably how it always will be. So, because I am black I believe that I may get worse opportunities than a white person. But I have learned in some facets to adapt and overcome.

I have learned that there are so many different ways to be an individual and to appreciate how you connect to other people, and you're only hurting yourself when you fail to acknowledge this