Intersectional Lens Research Articles

The realities of return migration: Reintegrating women migrant domestic workers in Sri Lanka

This paper critically analyzes the Sri Lankan government’s management of return migration. Adopting an intersectional lens, it examines how exclusionary policies and programs fail to protect the rights and welfare of returnee women migrant domestic workers, resulting in poor reintegration outcomes. The paper focuses on three interconnecting issues that disproportionately impact upon their rights, as revealed by empirical fieldwork carried out in Colombo in 2018. Research findings from interviews and focus group discussions with civil society organizations (9), government agencies (3) and international organizations (3) highlight the need for an inclusive policy approach. Such an approach would involve a holistic response guided by inter-agency coordination and comprehensive data that would better tailor services to the specific skillsets and diverse circumstances of returnee women domestic workers.

Transgender Health Dilemmas: An Intersectional Analysis of the Therapeutic Itineraries of Transgender Communities in the Philippines

ABSTRACT This study leverages an intersectional lens to characterize the therapeutic itineraries of local transgender (trans) communities vis-à-vis salient cisnormative and capitalist structures in Philippine society that produce trans health inequities. Interpretative phenomenological analysis of online interviews with thirteen (13) self-identified trans Filipinos reveals how the inaccessibility of trans-responsive care in the Philippines fosters trans health dilemmas, or the dilemmatic decision-making circumstances and processes that force trans Filipinos to choose between their trans-specific health needs and other needs. Such dilemmas valorize the deprioritization of trans health, disengagement with the health system, and the pursuit of alternative pathways to care oftentimes at the expense of their overall well-being. Addressing these dilemmas entails research, policy, and advocacy work that contend with the implicated structures of domination through systemic interventions initiated in partnership with local trans communities.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on migrant women in Milan, Italy: A qualitative study involving key informants working in third sector organizations and public hospitals

Migrants and women were among the groups most adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic global disaster. Through an intersectional lens that considers both migrant and female identities, it can be inferred that migrant women were particularly vulnerable to the pandemic. This study aims to investigate the impact of the pandemic on migrant women living in Milan (North-West Italy), by leveraging on the accounts of a pool of key informants (KIs). We performed an in-depth retrospective qualitative study using semi-structured interviews to explore the perspectives of KIs working in third sector organizations and public hospitals. After conducting an extensive mapping of organizations with experience working with migrants providing health, social, and/or administrative services during the pandemic, 28 KIs working in seven organizations were recruited. Interviews were transcribed and inductively analyzed. Overall, the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated pre-existing vulnerability factors affecting migrant women by triggering several cascading effects. The shutdown of services further marginalized them and hindered their regularization and empowerment path. Migrant women's financial situation was significantly impacted, as in most instances they had informal and gendered jobs. Caregivers and sex workers were the sub-groups most adversely affected by the pandemic. Episodes of gender-based violence appeared to rise, while requests for assistance declined. Accessing the vaccination campaign posed challenges for many migrant women, who at times tended to be skeptical about it. Third sector organizations, despite being confronted with several challenges, proved to be resilient during the pandemic and managed to find alternative methods to support migrant women, often filling institutional gaps.

The burden of non-communicable diseases in India: Why the intersectionality lens matters?

In India, structures such as caste, class and gender have been shaped by socio-historical forces such as colonialism, development, capitalism and patriarchy. Many of the forces are still at play. The intersection of such structural bases happens in a complex manner in a dynamic socio-historical environment resulting in differential power and privileges for individuals and social groups in Indian society. NCDs are chronic and social determinism shapes the lifestyle choices (e.g. diet and physical activity) that people make. Intersectional experiences result in distinct life chances, shaping exposure to risk factors (both behavioural and environmental), care seeking behaviour, and health outcomes. It is, therefore, imperative to go beyond the individual in the discourse on NCDs. It is equally necessary to understand the complexity of the dynamic and intersecting nature of inequities playing out in socio-historical contexts that shape intersectional experiences of uneven exposure to risk factors, care seeking behaviour and resultant health outcomes for social groups and population subgroups in India. The epidemiological capture of the public health discourse on NCDs in India is reflected in the research and policy articulation of it. This can be limiting, both in terms of understanding NCDs, and responding to it in policies and programmes to secure population health. The appreciation of the importance of the intersectionality lens, and its adoption in research and policy formulation on NCDs in India, will be crucial in lessening their burden and promoting the health of its people. Using the lens in the design, implementation and evaluation of programmes on NCDs can advance equity in India.

Fare-free, not carefree: care mobilities in a fare-free public transport system in Tallinn

The implementation of fare-free public transport (FFPT) in Tallinn (Estonia) in 2013 sparked international media, policy, and academic interest in best practices, funding structures, and ridership. Initial studies showed marginal effects on modal shift, but increased travel by low-income households, and by younger and older passengers. Yet, the assumed social impact of FFPT has since been under-researched. Based on qualitative research with 22 transport-dependent users, including two semi-structured interviews and a seven-day travel diary, this study examines the daily experiences, mobility constraints, and travel practices of care mobilities, i.e., journeys made to care for others or a household. Findings indicate that the absence of fares, although a relative variable in modal choice, allows carers expanded activity spaces, independence from car ownership, and easier coordination of care tasks. I propose to frame accessibility as a relational process emerging from passengers’ encounters and the practices adopted to navigate shared spaces. With this, I argue that understanding public transport use and experiences at a micro-level offers an intersectional and justice lens to commuter-oriented transport and neoliberal urban planning policies.

Intersectionality, gender norms, and young adolescents in context: a review of longitudinal multicountry research programmes to shape future action.

Discriminatory gender norms can intersect and interact with other dimensions of discrimination-such as age, race, ethnicity, disability, education status, and sexual orientation-to shape individuals' experiences and impact their health and wellbeing. This interaction is referred to as intersectionality. Although the theory has been in circulation since the late 1980s, only recently has it gained traction in low-income and middle-income settings, and it has yet to fully penetrate global research on adolescence. The social and structural intersectional drivers of adolescent health and wellbeing, particularly during early adolescence (age 10-14 years), are poorly understood. The evidence base for designing effective interventions for this formative period of life is therefore relatively small. In this Review, we examine how gender intersects with other forms of disadvantage in the early stages of adolescence. Analysing data from hybrid observation-intervention longitudinal studies with young adolescents in 16 countries, our aim is to inform the health and wellbeing of girls and boys from a range of social contexts, including in conflict settings. Adolescents' perceptions about gender norms vary by context, depend on individual opinion, and are shaped by socioecological drivers of gender inequalities in health. Shifting those perceptions is therefore challenging. We argue for the importance of applying an intersectionality lens to improve health and wellbeing outcomes for young adolescents and conclude with five practical recommendations for programme design and research.

Gender Bias in Academic Writing: Challenges and Equity Strategies

This review synthesizes existing research on the intricate relationship between gender and academic writing, exploring gendered writing styles, perceptions of writing quality, representation in academic publishing, intersectionality with other social identities, and interventions to promote gender equity. Findings reveal nuanced variations in writing practices, with female scholars tending toward more tentative styles and male scholars favoring assertive approaches. Evaluation biases persist, perpetuating gender stereotypes that impact grading and recognition. Structural inequities manifest in academic publishing landscapes, hindering diverse representation. An intersectional lens elucidates the compounding effects of gender, race, class, and disciplinary affiliations. Interventions proposed include gender-neutral guidelines, bias training, diversity initiatives, and institutional policies supporting inclusivity. While progress has been made, ongoing efforts are needed to dismantle persisting biases, address inequities, and cultivate equitable spaces valuing diverse voices in knowledge production. This comprehensive review informs future research directions and institutional strategies toward gender equity in academic writing.

Equality in higher education opportunities: Practitioners’ perspectives from global, rural, post-colonial disability

This paper gathers practitioner perspectives on tuition-free online courses and their potential to improve equality in higher education. Through an intersectional lens of race, gender, income, and indigeneity, this paper focuses on the experience of people living with disabilities (PLWD) as a further marginalized sub-population within diverse marginalized populations. Of note, disability-knowledge held by PLWD and by their family members can position them as sensitive and effective healthcare or disability-care providers. At the same time, society often does not grant an easy pathway to this education and licensure. The existing landscape of massive open online courses (MOOCs) may present tuition-free learning, but accreditation can rest upon payment and other complex structures. Even after PLWDs gather financial resources for official accreditation, prospective employers have the autonomy to determine whether this learning is valid. In a global context, low-income families may experience internal competition for financing between PLWD and non-disabled siblings. Securing a future in which payment models and disability-needs are accommodated for in MOOCs can alter multiple life trajectories in the families of PLWD and ensure that the intersectionally marginalized may equally benefit from open education.

Using an intersectionality lens to explore barriers and enablers to hepatitis C point-of-care testing: a qualitative study among people who inject drugs and service providers

BackgroundHepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a significant global health burden, particularly among people who inject drugs. Rapid point-of-care HCV testing has emerged as a promising approach to improve HCV detection and linkage to care in harm reduction organizations such as needle and syringe programs. The objective of this study was to use an intersectionality lens to explore the barriers and enablers to point-of-care HCV testing in a needle and syringe program.MethodsA qualitative study was conducted using semi-structured interviews with clients (people who inject drugs) and service providers in a large community organization focused on the prevention of sexually transmitted and blood borne infections and harm reduction in Montreal, Canada. An intersectionality lens was used alongside the Theoretical Domains Framework to guide the formulation of research questions as well as data collection, analysis, and interpretation.ResultsWe interviewed 27 participants (15 clients, 12 providers). For clients, four themes emerged: (1) understanding and perceptions of HCV testing, (2) the role of an accessible and inclusive environment, (3) the interplay of emotions and motivations in decision-making, and (4) the impact of intersectional stigma related to HCV, behaviors, and identities. For providers, five themes emerged: (1) knowledge, skills, and confidence for HCV testing, (2) professional roles and their intersection with identity and lived experience, (3) resources and integration of services, (4) social and emotional factors, and (5) behavioral regulation and incentives for HCV testing. Intersectional stigma amplified access, emotional and informational barriers to HCV care for clients. In contrast, identity and lived experience acted as powerful enablers for providers in the provision of HCV care.ConclusionThe application of an intersectionality lens provides a nuanced understanding of multilevel barriers and enablers to point-of-care HCV testing. Findings underscore the need for tailored strategies that address stigma, improve provider roles and communication, and foster an inclusive environment for equitable HCV care. Using an intersectionality lens in implementation research can offer valuable insights, guiding the design of equity-focused implementation strategies.

Intersectional solidarity, empathy, or pity? Exploring representations of migrant women in German and British newspapers during the pandemic

ABSTRACT This research examines migrant women’s representation in British and German news during the COVID-19 pandemic, paying particular attention to expressions of solidarity. While previous research has focused on the representation of women and migrants, studies have largely treated these groups as distinct entities. Combining topic modelling with informed grounded theory, this research compares the representation of migrant women, including women from ethnic minorities, across a diverse corpus covering 2020–21. This two-step methodology facilitates intersectional analysis at the macro and micro level, revealing the salience, topical concentration and context of migrant women’s coverage. Findings show that solidarity emerged through the platforming of migrant women’s voices, and connected to discourses of class, poverty and precarity. Representations containing empathy and pity – less likely drivers of social change – were more prevalent. This research contributes to our understanding of migrant women’s coverage during the pandemic and provides a granular and intersectional lens for analysing minoritized group representation.

Women's rugby for all: Toward an intersectional women's rugby research agenda.

Women rugby players are participating in the sport at the highest levels to date. However, despite this increase in participation, sports sciences and sports medicine/sports physiotherapy (SEMS) research output has not mirrored this increase. Females have hormonally mediated anatomical and physiological profiles, which may have implications for rugby performance, injury risk and rehabilitation outcomes. However, hormonal fluctuations and the physiological differences between the sexes are not the only contributors to sex-related differences in the rugby experience. Rugby is a highly gendered environment, which operates within a hegemonic masculine norm and marginalises female and women athletes. Further, while women players in general are underrepresented in sports sciences and SEMS research, women rugby players and experts from ethnic minorities and the Global South are near invisible in the literature as they are marginalised on multiple fronts. Sports sciences and SEMS research should take an intersectional lens to investigate the joint relationship between the various sources of inequity in rugby. Intersectional research in women rugby players would encourage the conceptualisation and analysis of the complex social inequalities that the most marginalised women players and those who simultaneously negotiate multiple identities experience. Such data can better inform federation-level interventions and policy changes to address the needs of historically marginalised player populations as our research portfolio will be more representative of the world's rugby population.

Are Queer Men Queering Consent? A Scoping Review of Sexual Consent Literature Among Gay, Bisexual, Trans, and Queer Men

Objectives To review the literature on Gay, Bisexual, Trans, and Queer (GBTQ) men and sexual consent. Methods Eight electronic databases were searched in June 2022, yielding 1924 articles; 30 were included for review after screening. Results We found a growing body of literature focused on GBTQ men, with an increasingly intersectional lens. Most studies adopted a nuanced definition of sexual consent. Many discussed the unique sexual scripts developed by GBTQ men to communicate consent, especially in sex venues, and how unfamiliarity with these scripts creates vulnerability for newly “out” men. A common theme was the impact of heteromasculine norms on sexual encounters between GBTQ men. Conclusions The reviewed literature problematizes binary definitions of consent and miscommunication theories of assault. It both celebrates and problematizes GBTQ sexual cultures. We encourage future research to adopt more explicitly anti-carceral approaches to studying sexual consent and violence.

Separation at birth due to safeguarding concerns: Using reproductive justice theory to re-think the role of midwives.

Separation at birth due to safeguarding concerns is a deeply distressing and impactful event, with numbers rising across the world, and has devastating outcomes for birth mothers and their children. It is one of the most challenging aspects of contemporary midwifery practice in high-income countries, although rarely discussed and reflected on during pre- and post-registration midwifery training. Ethnic and racial disparities are prevalent both in child protection and maternity services and can be explained through an intersectional lens, accounting for biases based on race, gender, class, and societal beliefs around motherhood. With this paper, we aim to contribute to the growing body of critical midwifery studies and re-think the role of midwives in this context. Building on principles of reproductive justice theory, Intersectionality, and Standpoint Midwifery, we argue that midwives play a unique role when supporting women who go through child protection processes and should pursue a shift from passive bystander to active upstander to improve care for this group of mothers.

The Romanovs on Contemporary American TV

Abstract This article analyzes the Netflix six-part docudrama The Last Czars as well as the Amazon Prime anthology drama The Romanoffs for its representations of Russian imperial history and its heritage. Using an intersectional lens, it utilizes a close watching of the TV shows to identify a nostalgia for Russia's imperial legacy as core element of both series. Embedding the findings within popular culture, the analysis further shows that the nostalgic depiction of the last Russian imperial family and the mourning of their loss has a century-long history within American media. Comparing these depictions further to recent commemorations of the last Romanovs through the exhibitions Russia My History points to the Western complicity in Russian imperialist and colonial ideology through the recent shows in liberal American media.

How does the curriculum contribute to the experiences of belongingness in higher education?

This paper is a critical discussion about how the curriculum contributes to the sense of belonginess within Higher Education (HE), and how the ongoing aim of decolonisation needs to incorporate a more consistent intersectional lens with the curriculum within psychology. Psychology as a discipline has been criticised for its focus on primarily conducting research with people from countries that are Western, Educated, Industrialised, Rich and Democratic (WEIRD; Henrich et al., 2010). This approach has neglected a number of social groups within the wider literature and has indeed marginalised the voices and experiences of many. Through the topic of decolonisation, there has been the discussion of the importance of belonging and belongingness, but the intersectional experiences of various social groups within the curriculum has been neglected. In summary, this discussion reveals that there are several key ways in which curricula and decolonial research can contribute to belonging: 1) communication of what (who) is important; 2) consideration of student learning needs; 3) appreciation of course content that is salient to students; 4) demonstration of alignment with a wider range of philosophical approaches; 5) promotion and celebration of cultural differences which allow students to be themselves; and 6) inclusion of a wide range of factors within teaching that contribute to belonging, for example the importance of place.

Gender health equity: The case for including men's health

United States' federal policy and infrastructure fail to explicitly consider the health of men, particularly the poor health of marginalized men. This inattention to men's health hinders the nation's ability to improve population health, to achieve gender health equity, and to achieve health equity more broadly. Expanding efforts to consider gender in federal policy and infrastructure to include men, naming men as a population whose poor health warrants policy attention, creating offices of men's health in federal agencies, and utilizing an intersectional lens to develop and analyze policies that affect health would likely yield critical improvements in population health and health equity in the United States. Using data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, I illustrate the persistence of sex differences in mortality and leading causes of death, and how these patterns mask gender gaps in health that are driven largely by marginalized men. Given the common practice of presenting data by sex and race separately, it is difficult to recognize when the health of specific groups of men warrants attention. I utilize the case of Black men to illustrate the importance of an intersectional approach, and why men's health is critical to achieving gender and racial equity in health. While a gender mainstreaming approach has enhanced the nation's ability to consider and address the health of women and girls, it has not expanded to be inclusive of boys and men. Consequently, I argue that if our goal is to achieve health equity, it is critical to employ an intersectional approach that simultaneously considers the full range of factors that influence individual and population health and well-being. An intersectional approach would facilitate efforts to simultaneously explore strategies to achieve racial, ethnic, and gender health equity, which are driven by structural determinants beyond sex and gender related factors.

Forgotten women in education: A narrative inquiry into the marginalisation of ECD practitioners

Background: South African narratives of and by early childhood development (ECD) practitioners often focus on policies, practices and perspectives in research. While these are important for the development of the field, the voices of ECD practitioners, in this marginalised space, are silent.Aim: This article aims to understand: Who are the ECD practitioners? What are the conditions of their lives and livelihoods? How do they negotiate opportunities for employment, socio-economic growth and further education and training?Setting: The study describes the marginality of ECD practitioners by narrating the lived experience of work and post-school education and training of one mature woman in the Western Cape. By narrating a single story, the stories of others unfold; working in similar circumstances and negotiating the same opportunities in the harsh reality of poverty and oppression. Employing a narrative methodology is a commitment to decolonising the practice of research, where voices of the ‘Other’ are centralised and amplified.Methods: An intersectional lens forms the theoretical grounding for this article with life history interviews as its primary form of data collection.Results: Adult women ECD practitioners are mainly poor, black and female. They pursue access into higher education to improve their lives and livelihoods.Conclusion: The intersections that shape their lives limit their opportunities for access and success.Contribution: The power of narrative research, displayed in this article, ensures that voice is used to move the lived experiences of black women ECD practitioners from the margins to the centre.

Disability and Employment in the United States, 1880–1955: Implications for Human Resource Development Practice and Research

This paper explores historical ableism in the United States workforce from the close of the Civil War to the end of World War II. It discusses the issues people with disabilities (PWD), including disabled veterans, faced when entering or returning to the workforce, along with the policy and practical shifts that occurred to mitigate such issues. We approach this discussion with a critical and intersectional lens, situating the shift within critical disability studies and framing analyses within historically relevant medical, economic, and social modes of disability. We aim to inform Human Resource Development (HRD) scholars, practitioners, and educators about PWD’s often underrepresented histories in various workplaces and training programs by demonstrating the impacts of the models and workplace ableism. The paper concludes with a discussion of how the legacies of historical policies and practices continue to shape professional and continuing education for many PWD.

Breaking Norms: Depictions of Violent Girls in Swedish Newspapers

ABSTRACT This study explores the portrayal of girls engaged in violence within Swedish newspapers, focusing on contemporary representations in the media landscape. News media plays a pivotal role in shaping societal perceptions and norms, including those surrounding violence and gender. Analyzing media depictions of girls’ violence is crucial as it influences our understanding of gender norms and violence. We examined newspaper articles from 2021 to discern how violent girls were depicted, the portrayal of their actions, and whether they were given agency in the narratives. Utilizing gender theory with an intersectional lens, we scrutinized how Swedish media reported on and portrayed girls’ violence. Three key themes emerged: the characteristics of violent girls, the forms of violence, and explanations for their behavior. Notably, explanations for girls’ violence often focused narrowly on individual or relational factors, neglecting broader social contexts. Additionally, the girls were rarely given a platform to express their perspectives. Media portrayals positioned them as deviant from both feminine and violent norms, reinforcing societal stereotypes.

Mapping social movements momentum: unveiling networks in the movement for the right to abortion in Mexico

In this case study, we propose a network analysis approach to map social movements through an intersectional feminist lens. We aim to gain a more in-depth understanding of movements' network structures to examine the roles and relationships of movement actors, the flow of resources between them, and potential areas of collaboration and conflict. By incorporating Social Network Analysis (SNA) techniques and visually mapping dynamics within social movements, this approach can assess the significance of small actors in creating change and stresses the need for their perspectives to be heard. Furthermore, our methodology adopts a feminist intersectional framework that recognizes the role of different identities in shaping the movement and its actors. To demonstrate the practical application of this approach, we examined the movement for the right to abortion in Mexico between September and December 2021. Our multi-step process included (1) designing a survey tool adapted to the context of the movement, (2) collecting and analyzing survey responses on movement actors' relationships and interactions, including their priorities, activities, needs, risks, and challenges, (3) visualizing the network using SNA techniques that account for the complexity and diversity of the movement, (4) interpreting the findings through insights collected in semi-structured interviews and validation meetings with key movement actors, and (5) implementing safety and security guidelines to safeguard the identity of individuals whose activities could put them at risk of suffering institutional, emotional, and physical violence. Our case study offers valuable insights that not only encourage the integration of feminist and intersectional perspectives into data collection processes but also provide a roadmap for accompanying social movements and supporting meaningful and contextually responsive activities.