Intersectional Perspective Research Articles

Academic trajectories in the Southern Cone: marked by the stigmatization of being a woman, migrant, or non-Caucasian

The academic trajectories of women in the Southern Cone are marked by different obstacles. From an intersectional perspective, this article asks: what are the discriminatory situations that affect the academic trajectories of women in the Southern Cone of Latin America? To address this question, a survey was conducted among 453 female academics from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, and Uruguay. Based on the collected data, a descriptive analysis was performed, to explore the type and the level of exposure to discriminatory situations, enriched with brief descriptions of the types of discrimination experienced by the academics. The findings suggest that academics in the region face discrimination based on sexism, racism, classism, xenophobia, and homophobia. Yet, although female academics in all the analyzed countries experience discrimination, it is those who identified themselves racially, as migrants and as women, who suffer the major levels of exposure to discrimination.

Single people in Poland and Brazil on social isolation: living situations

This text is a report related to the quantitative data of the study “Single people in social isolation: a transnational study”. This research started in 2020 and aims to understand, from a gender perspective, how single people from Brazil and Poland experienced social isolation due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The research included single adults of both sexes who were not involved in a romantic relationship at that time. The study is exploratory, with quantitative methods, using questionnaires as instruments. In this text, we are going to present the profile of the participants in the Brazilian and Polish samples, seeking to describe from a gender and an intersectional perspective how single people lived in the first months of 2020 when the pandemic was recognised by some essential socio-demographic characteristics, living conditions, parenting, casual relationships.

Organizational Commitment and Employee Performance during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Evidence from a BPO Company

The pandemic necessitated remote workplace setup, and as employees’ homes doubled as their workplaces, it became difficult to distinguish between the two. With this reality came the challenge of enhancing employee performance and organizational commitment. This study investigated the correlation between organizational commitment and employee performance during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study involved 158 employees of a BPO (Business Process Outsourcing) company situated in Quezon City, Philippines. Non-parametric statistical testing such as Mann–Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis tests were employed to examine the significant differences in the respondent's ratings when their demographic profiles were considered. Spearman’s rank correlation was used to measure the strength of the relationship between the constructs of organizational commitment and dimensions of employee performance. Results of the study revealed a high positive relationship between continuance commitment and employee performance. Furthermore, this study also explored organizational commitment along four demographic variables, resulting in the detection of significant differences in the perception of continuance commitment on account of gender, age, civil status, and length of service. A significant difference was also detected in affective commitment considering the length of service. Single, married, and widowed respondents also differed in their opinions on normative commitment. While research on organizational commitment exist, few studies have explored the role of demographic factors in shaping employee responses to pandemics. This study demonstrates value by examining the influence of demographic variables on organizational commitment and employee performance during the pandemic, adopting an intersectional perspective, and offering practical implications for organizational management, theoretical advancement, and future research directions.

Centring intersectionality and decolonisation in an online undergraduate gender and development course in Canada

ABSTRACT Despite the growing acknowledgement by development academics and educators of the need to decolonise the study and teaching of development, and to apply an intersectional gender lens to development issues, there has been little discussion and few examples of how this can be achieved in an online undergraduate gender and development (GAD) course. A scan of undergraduate GAD course syllabi from Canadian universities revealed an absence of intersectionality and decolonisation as concepts and approaches, minimal linkages between GAD theory and practice, and an uncritical focus on the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In this practice note, I share several approaches to centre intersectionality, promote critical and decolonial perspectives, and bridge theory and practice in a newly created online course at the University of the Fraser Valley, BC, Canada. Drawing upon themes that emerged in online discussion posts and course evaluations, I also discuss students’ views.

The experience of gender in spousal caregiving: A phenomenological psychological study (Greece).

To explore how spousal caregivers of older people undergoing rehabilitation experience gender within the Greek community. A psychological phenomenological design and analysis were used to illuminate the unique meanings 11 spousal caregivers attribute to their experience of gender by gathering qualitative data via interviews. The data provided an insight into the structure of the experience of gender for the spousal caregivers as a normative diachronic identity in a succession of phases: normative constitution, alienation, and reparation. The findings highlight the influence of gender stereotypes on spousal caregivers' self-concept, agency, caregiving evaluations, and practices, emphasizing the importance of adopting an intersectional perspective in future research and interventions, considering various factors such as ethnicity, gender, sexuality, age, power dynamics, and cultural norms. Spousal caregivers experience alienation on entering the caregiving journey, with gender-related vulnerabilities affecting their psychological well-being. Addressing these vulnerabilities can improve caregivers' mental health and foster effective coping strategies. The study emphasizes the moral aspect of caregiving, highlighting the relationship between a sense of obligation, feelings of guilt, gender norms, and motivations calling for challenging self-sacrificial morals and societal norms associated with them to empower caregivers to prioritize their well-being while maintaining their caregiving motivations. This shift in perspective can lead to a more positive and fulfilling caregiving experience. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Disparate benefits of higher childhood socioeconomic status on cognition in young adulthood by intersectional social positions

ObjectivesEmerging evidence supports the protective effects of higher childhood socioeconomic status (cSES) on cognition over the life course. However, less understood is if higher cSES confers benefits equally across intersecting social positions. Guided by a situational intersectionality perspective and the theory of Minority Diminished Returns (MDR), this study examined the extent to which associations between cSES and cognition in young adulthood are jointly moderated by racialized identity and region of childhood residence. MethodsUsing data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health), we used multilevel modeling to test associations between cSES and delayed recall and working memory 14 years later when participants were ages 25–34. Further, we examined the influence of racialized identity and region of childhood residence on these associations. ResultsHigher cSES was associated with higher delayed recall and working memory scores across social positions. However, the strength of the association between higher cSES and working memory differed across racialized subgroups and region of childhood residence. We found a statistically significant three-way interaction between cSES, race and region of childhood residence. Of particular important, a small yet statistically robust association was found in all groups, but was especially strong among White Southerners and especially weak among Black participants from the South. ConclusionsThis study contributes to a growing body of research indicating that the protective effects of higher cSES on cognition are not universal across subgroups of intersecting social positions, consistent with the theory of MDR. These findings provide evidence for the importance of considering the role of systemic racism across geographic contexts as part of initiatives to promote equity in life course cognitive aging and brain health.

Youth dis/comforts in everyday spaces: an intersectional and mixed methods approach in Catalonia

ABSTRACT Intersectional perspectives on the configuration and effects of discrimination and inequality on youth are currently a growing focus of research. Here we present a study on the spatialities of perceived discrimination among 88 young people (aged 14–16 years old) in Catalonia through a methodological approach that combines and integrates quantitative and qualitative data on intersectional dynamics. By analysing the dis/comforts caused by diverse axes of inequality, we show how discrimination and inequality on the grounds of gender, sexual orientation, origin, religion, nationality and physical appearance are experienced differently at home, at secondary school, on social networks and in public spaces depending on the youths’ social positions and their interrelations. By doing so, we contribute to debates on the role of place in intersectional inequalities in youth research, showing the complexity of intersectional dynamics and how they are contingent on specific contexts.

Integrating perspectives of transgender and gender-diverse youth, family members, and professionals to support their health and wellbeing – a mixed-method study protocol

BackgroundThe current literature highlights a strong link between the poor health outcomes of transgender and gender diverse (TGD) individuals and their negative experiences in various areas of life. Most of these publications rely on adults’ memories, lacking a focus on the current experiences and needs of young transgender and gender-diverse individuals. Furthermore, previous studies on support for these young people often solely consider the perspectives of TGD adults or professionals and rarely involve parents’ viewpoints.MethodsThis study will use a mixed sequential method with a participatory approach. Firstly, the qualitative phase will explore the difficulties and needs of TGD (15–20 years old) and of the families and professionals who support them. Results from this part will be used to develop the questionnaire for the quantitative phase, with the help of a community board. Secondly, based on participatory epidemiological research, the quantitative phase will use an intersectional perspective to measure the impact of individual and structural factors on the quality of life and well-being of transgender and gender-diverse young people. Finally, a co-creation phase will be undertaken to formulate recommendations based on the results of the first two phases.DiscussionThis research aims at better understanding the influence of gender identity on the quality of life and health of TGD young people and their families and to identify protective and risk factors that affect their vulnerabilities.Ethics and disseminationThis study has been approved by the Ethics Committee of the Erasme Faculty Hospital (CCB B4062023000140). As this research is participatory and part of a PhD dissertation, we aim to disseminate the results through our partners’ networks and structures locally, and internationally through conferences and peer-reviewed journals.

Racial Capitalism and Entrepreneurship: An Intersectional Feminist Labour Market Perspective on UK Self-Employment

This article explains entrepreneurial activity patterns in the United Kingdom labour market using theories of racial capitalism and intersectional feminism. Using UK Office for National Statistics Labour Force Survey data 2018–2019 and employing probit modelling techniques on employment modes, self-employment types and work arrangements among differing groups, we investigate inequality in self-employment within and between socio-structural groupings of race, class and gender. We find that those belonging to non-dominant gender, race and socio-economic class groupings experience an intersecting set of entrepreneurial penalties, enhancing understanding of the ways multiple social hierarchies interact in self-employment patterns. This robust quantitative evidence challenges contemporary debates, policy and practice regarding the potential for entrepreneurship to offer viable income generation opportunities by those on the socio-economic margins.

Exploring the Alternatives to the Male-Breadwinner Model – The Implications for Social Policy Study

Abstract This article begins by discussing some of the main approaches that have emerged to gender and family policy, before proceeding to discuss more modern trends. It begins by discussing institutional approaches, such as the male-breadwinner model, defamilialisation, degenderisation. Then it discusses cultural approaches, such as the national ideals of care, gendered moral rationalities, and Hakim’s preference theory. Then this article continues by briefly discussing attempts to broaden the discussion by bringing in children (including through the capabilities approach) and by adding an intersectional perspective.

Prostitution in the shadow of life-long sexual abuse: Arab women’s retrospective experiences

ABSTRACT The present study uses the life-course and intersectionality perspectives to explore the meaning that aging Arab women attribute to their lived experiences of life-long sexual abuse in the shadow of engaging in prostitution. Interpretive phenomenological analysis was used to analyze the narratives of 10 older Arab women in Israel who were engaged in prostitution. Four themes emerged: experiencing childhood in the shadow of sexual abuse, becoming a prostitute, being entrapped in prostitution, and settling accounts with the native culture. Women aging in prostitution experience a harsh reality of abuse and loss. The present study points to multiple channels of abuse throughout the life course, from childhood until old age.

Bridging the Access Gap: A Decade of Narrowing the Digital Divide for Hispanic Older Adults in the United States.

Objectives: This study examines the digital divide between Hispanic and non-Hispanic White older adults in the United States from 2011 to 2021, using an intersectionality perspective. Methods: Eleven waves of data from the National Health and Aging Trend were analyzed through multilevel logistic regression, focusing on the intersection between race/ethnicity and time (measured by survey waves) within gender, education, and income subgroups. The digital divide was measured by Internet access. Results: Despite the enduring digital access gap, the longitudinal analysis revealed a narrowing digital divide between Hispanic and non-Hispanic White older adults, especially those with low education and income. Discussion: The observed trend signifies progress in digital inclusivity initiatives yet highlights ongoing challenges in fully bridging the divide for the Hispanic older adult community. Future efforts should not only focus on access but also on enhancing the effective usage of digital technologies to promote health equity and well-being.

OBSTETRIC VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN FROM AN INTERSECTIONAL THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVE: A narrative review

This study aims to reflect obstetric violence against women from the theoretical perspective of intersectionality. This is a narrative review that was proposed to analyze from the national literature, available in the databases: SciELO, ARCA and VHL, research that addressed the central theme of the present study and in each database the health descriptors were used: "intersectional theory", "obstetric violence" and "gender and ethnic racism" organized by the Boolean operator “AND”. From the extensive literature we can infer that obstetric violence against women occurs mainly against black, brown, indigenous and poor women, that is, women who most accumulate intersections/social determinants of health. Finally, obstetric violence does not choose a profile, all people who are pregnant are subject to being violated just because of their ability to conceive and undergo obstetric procedures. However, it can worsen depending on your environment, class, race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity and other intersections.

Power & Moral Capital - A “Theory of Access” for People Receiving Public Assistance in Rural USA

ABSTRACT In-depth interviews with people using public assistance in a rural place in the United States demonstrated barriers to accessing resources through formal work and self-provisioning and the ability to benefit from use of public assistance—low income means-tested medical, nutritional, financial, or other services from state, federal, or non-governmental agencies. The Theory of Access (TOA) was used as a framework to organize participant narratives and an intersectional perspective to a multidimensional theory of power was used to demonstrate how moral capital is levied and reproduced. Findings from the TOA revealed intersectionalities in barriers to accessing resources across structural, relational, physical, and psychosocial access mechanisms for women, particularly women of color with dependent children, pregnant women of color, and women with disabilities. While TOA demonstrated need for public assistance, the double power of moral capital demonstrated how the benefits of public assistance to human dignity and welfare were reduced by (1) disciplinary tactics to reject public assistance and (2) reproduction of broader moral imperatives. The connections between TOA and moral capital contribute an intersectionality approach for understanding the multiple disadvantages of people with the lowest incomes, which helps to explain low rates of self-provisioning and public assistance use despite high need across the rural Global North.

“What do I stand for?” - A phenomenological account of an identity crisis in the climate classroom

This single-participant idiographic study examines the implications of a student’s identity crisis in the climate classroom through the lens of existential phenomenology. The study analyses the ontological sense-making process of a mixed-race, bisexual female student reckoning with the racial dimensions of climate change during an environmental course in a liberal arts college in the Netherlands. By delving into the ontological implications of the participant’s experience of the course, the analysis shows that environmental education can meaningfully impact the mind-body relationship and self-identification of students with marginalized identities. The findings challenge some of the assumptions of popular frameworks for understanding marginalization in environmental education, like intersectionality, and post-humanist perspectives. The authors conclude that attending to human sense-making in environmental education can benefit students with marginalized identities by grounding environmental education in practices that make space for these identities.

Challenging the fashion academy: Intersectional perspectives on justice in the evolving fashion system

This Special Issue of the journal focuses on the intricate relationship between justice and the fashion system, presenting a collection of groundbreaking research articles and reviews. The aim is to highlight the importance of intersectional and advocacy-based research in fashion studies, with a focus on historically marginalized identities. The articles employ diverse research methods, including literature reviews, material culture analysis, interviews and historical investigations. The articles cover a range of topics that examine justice within the fashion industry. One article critically analyses scholarship on Black women and fashion, highlighting the dominance of research centred on resistance, oppression and Eurocentric beauty standards. Another article explores the representation and experiences of Muslim women in modest fashion brands, examining the intersection of oppression, agency and capitalist practices. Additionally, the issue includes articles centred on fatness and fashion, discussing transgressive dress on YouTube, resistance against weight stigma on Instagram, and the historical development of sizing systems for fat bodies. Two reviews featured in the Special Issue provide insights into the relationship between fashion and intersectional feminism in American society, as well as the historical significance of Bomba attire in Puerto Rico. Overall, this collection of articles and reviews offers a comprehensive exploration of fashion studies through the lens of historically marginalized identities, shedding light on the industry’s potential to challenge discrimination and promote inclusivity. The issue calls for continued engagement with intersectional and advocacy-based research to drive the growth and evolution of the discipline, ultimately working towards a more equitable and inclusive fashion industry.

Critical cognitive science: A systematic review towards a critical science

AbstractMany leading scholars have highlighted the use of Critical Race Theory (CRT) in approaching research and practice in psychology. Critical Race Theory allows for cognitive science to take a more intersectional perspective rather than perpetuate the exclusionary and universal limitations associated with traditional cognitive science. This review and commentary apply CRT to cognitive science to address three main goals. The first is describing the history of cognitive science and how CRT tenets can help understand the need for a critical race perspective. Second is applying the CRT tenet of recognizing racism in cognitive science through a rigorous systematic review. The third is highlighting the tenet of whitewashing psychological phenomenon to explain epistemic exclusion and provide recommendations to combat it. CRT is an important framework in cognitive science as it can help combat the harmful methodologies and implications that have been perpetuated for decades (e.g., racist assumption of intelligence, exclusion of participants because of hair texture).

Queer –activism and intersectionality? A discourse analysis of queer –political subject formations in the problematization of ‘race’

ABSTRACT Queer and intersectional perspectives play an important role in activism and academia and are critical of a collective ‘we’ that is arranged around a (single-issue) identity. However, queer sexual politics are still a side of white theory production, especially in the German-speaking world. This study explores how the current queer political subject in the German-speaking world is constituted in the ‘problematization’ of racism based on a poststructuralist critique of the subject. Against the backdrop of the shared but slightly different critique of identity politics from queer and intersectional perspectives, it also looks at the role intersectionality plays in these queer problematizations of racism. To that end, following Foucault and Jäger, discourse analysis was conducted on materials produced by five German-speaking queer-activist organizations between 2010 and 2016. This study presents the results of the analysis of two representative discourse fragments; in both discourse fragments, a more open queer political subject is constituted in the problematization of ‘race’ by referring in slightly different ways to intersectional critiques, but also to the concept of precarity.

To Die For: Modern Femininity and the Quest for Anti-Hegemonic Anthropomorphization

This paper provides an analysis of how the concept of femininity is used in literary anthropormorphizations of animals and plants. I argue that this usage of femininity for anthropormorphization provides a framework from which animal and plant life are reevaluated as meaningful. However, the notion of femininity portrayed in my exemplary case study can be shown to depict a specifically white and patriarchal narration of femininity. Therefore, this paper explores possibilities for literary anthropormorphization that is feminist, decolonial and narrates animal and plant life as meaningful. My general advocacy is one for intersectional perspectives and new ways of generating meaning and worth that consider different, interwoven struggles at once and make sense of them precisely in their interwovenness. To do so I connect feminist literary criticism, decolonial theory, Afropessimism, and environmentalist perspectives. My case studies are the Song of the Dodo by David Quammen and Mushrooms by Sylvia Plath.

Absolute Illiteracy in European Union Policies. Exploring the Intersections of Gender, Migration and Education

In the context of a study focused on the absolute illiteracy of migrant women in Europe, this article assesses the extent to which European Union policy instruments on gender, migration and education incorporate an intersectional perspective. The analysis was based in the content analysis of a selected group of EU policy documents and included i) the close and iterative reading and thematic codification of the texts; ii) the word frequency counting of relevant terms; and iii) the assessment of intersectionality through a set of quality criteria. Apart from revealing the invisibility of absolute illiteracy as a policy problem, results confirm previous evidence showing that the presence of intersectional approaches in EU public policy is still marginal. Some attempts to address the intersectionality of gender, migration or education inequalities have been identified in the selected documents, but a comprehensive policy framework to understand and address those inequalities is still lacking. The article adds up to the existing scholarship claiming for more inclusive policies in contemporary European societies.