Race, Class, and Gender
Name
Institution
Race, Class, and Gender
In gender theory, the intersection theorization of multiple inequalities has raised issues. These developments have wide applications in the area of social theory. Feminism, on the other hand, has moved beyond the focus of critiques in classical sociology class, beyond the special studies of construction in gender to sub-fields of disability, ethnicity, sexual orientation, age and religion, and in the direction of theoretical recognition of multiple inequalities of intersection importance however it is not significant if these should stay as it is or it should proceed. An important subject is the analysis of intersectionality in other fields of literature in social science using several concepts for instance the multiculturalism, cosmopolitanism, hybrid, anti-racism, and nationalism. Despite the fact that different approaches to the intersectionality issue arise, there is a common interest on the issue of theorization and conceptualization of the relationship between projects that define each other and the difference between social groups which are different. This paper addresses the analysis of discourse intersectionality, tensions, debates, approaches, and dilemmas in intersectional theory and method. In addition to that, it also Illustrates Intersectionality, strengths, and limitations of Intersectionality as a framework and the e4xtend to which intersectionality as an analytical research tool been successful or underachieved.
The experiences of people in the social world are shaped by social class, ethnicity, race, sexual orientation, and several other social stratification issues. Some social locations afford oppressive, for instance, the poor while others afford the privilege, for instance, the rich. The social inequality of various aspects operates as independent of each other. The interrelated system is due to the interaction of domination and oppression. The intersectionality concept ones to light whereby the social location aspects intersect to create experiences in people’s lives. In the discourse of Intersectionality, it uses a traffic intersection symbol whereby a person, for instance, a black woman, can be disturbed by both sexism and racism at the same time. The experience is prejudice on its own and also a complex experience. the black women’s invisibility in violence especially the domestic ones gives evidence of both the anti-racist project and gender equality. The way race and gender interacts limits the success of black women in the labor market in America traditional boundaries of gender or race does not submit the black women’s experiences. According to the previous social societal engagements, the academic and political intersection of ethnicity, race, and gender, have not been successful in relation to a black woman. Anti-racist discourse and contemporary feminists have failed to look into the identities of intersection for instance the color of women.
Intersectionality comes in different approaches. Another approach is the study of a plethora using the intersectionality concepts and identifies several approaches like the anti-categorical, intra-categorical, and inter-categorical. Focusing on a specific social group, at neglected intersectional points falls under the intra-categorical. Most of the time, this approach examines small groups that are not analyzed previously. However, it has a disadvantage of focus displacement from social processes which are large and structures that come up with the inequalities. On the other hand, the anti-categorical approach is based on a methodology that destroys the construction of analytical categories. The approach, unlike the intra-categorical, considers the categorical stabilization to be causing problems in reifying and essentializing the social relationships that people may seek to change. Therefore, it gives priorities to the fluidity when compared to categories stability. It, therefore, becomes a problem in analysis whereby making analysis difficult. Finally, the inter-categorical perspective adopts categories in the analysis which currently exist in social group inequality and configuration changes of inequality among conflicting and multiple dimensions. According to the recommendation from the researchers, inter-categorical is powerful in that it involves a wide structure that comes up with inequality.
Another debate arises whereby some researchers came up with three approaches of studying the class, gender, race, and other categories of intersectional, multiple and unitary differences. In the approach of unitary, only a single approach is focused on, determined as stable and primary. In multiple approaches, several categories are looked into and the major subject is equality. The categories relationship is open, not stable but fluid.
There are several dilemmas in the discourse of the intersectionality. For instance, the relationship addresses political and structural intersectionality without political projection reduction to social structures. Several researchers introduced the distinction but most of the time people do not address it. Another dilemma is the way of intersection conceptualization to come up with the disadvantaged agency and put it in focus so as to remove the powerful in the society out of sight. Another dilemma that arises in the way of balancing inequalities fluidity and stability for them to be present in empirical analysis, in consideration of the change. However, if this approach is followed, there will be disadvantages in the practical analysis.
The advantages of intersectionality are that it has made positive effects on the theory of feminism. According to McCall, “the most important theoretical contribution to women studies is Intersectionality”. The study of Intersectionality has contributed to education in feminism. The Intersectionality concept helps the researches to be clearly observant. It has effective implications in the theory of feminism and in addition to its practice. Intersectionality also provides interaction of different learners to trying to come up with a common understanding of Intersectionality. Another advantage is that the theory of feminism, has different backgrounds in theoretical perspectives but they share a similar enterprise. Therefore, despite the fact that differences exist, the study allows women to sustain their beliefs while working for better understandi8ng at the same time.
Intersectionality does not have many disadvantages but one of them is a lack of understanding behind it coming up with different dilemmas and understanding. For instance, the addressing of concepts of Intersectionality is not easy because up to date, there is no clear definition and interpretation of Intersectionality. There is no clear balance between the fluidity and stability of the concept, each researcher coming up with its definition and understanding of the concepts of Intersectionality.
In conclusion, intersectionality analysis is advanced by many researchers, however, there are several dilemmas still not clearly identified. The main area is how to look into the relationship between the political and structural intersectionality so that they can balance and one not to overtake the other. Underpinning the approach of intersectionality debate theory depends on the version utilization of critical realism and selective deployment of theory complexity. The approach enhances a move beyond several disadvantages of previous debates on intersectionality, making it able to deploy potential to a wide range of social phenomena.
References
Belkhir, J. A. (2001). Marxism Without Apologies: Integrating Race, Gender, Class; A Working Class Approach. Race, Gender & Class, 142-171.
Grekul, J. (2008). Sterilization in Alberta, 1928 to 1972: Gender matters. Canadian Review of Sociology/Revue canadienne de sociologie, 45(3), 247-266.
Mahoney, M. R. (1992). Whiteness and Women, In Practice and Theory: A Reply to Catharine MacKinnon. Yale JL & Feminism, 5, 217.Belkhir, J. A., & Charlemaine, C. (2007). Race, gender and class lessons from Hurricane Katrina. Race, Gender & Class, 120-152.
Purkayastha, B. (2012). Intersectionality in a transnational world. Gender & Society, 26(1), 55-66.
Rezai-Rashti, G. (1994). The dilemma of working with minority female students in Canadian high schools. Canadian Woman Studies, 14(2).