Intersectionality | Social Inequality | MCAT | Khan Academy

Summary

This Khan Academy video delves into the concept of intersectionality, highlighting how individuals can experience multiple forms of discrimination simultaneously. The video uses the example of a female, African American Buddhist living in a society that may discriminate against her on all three fronts: gender, race, and religion. It stresses the importance of understanding the compounded disadvantages these overlapping identities can create, as termed by the theory of intersectionality. Originally coined by Crenshaw in 1989 as a feminist theory, intersectionality has since broadened to include examining oppression in various societal contexts.

Highlights

• Intersectionality involves facing multiple discriminations at once, such as race, gender, and religion. ✨
• The intersection of these discriminations can place individuals at a significant societal disadvantage. 🚦
• Crenshaw coined the term 'intersectionality' in 1989 to highlight these overlapping oppressions. 🔍

Key Takeaways

• Intersectionality reveals how overlapping identities can lead to compounded discrimination. 🎯
• Understanding all levels of discrimination is crucial for a complete perspective. 🧩
• Originally a feminist theory, intersectionality now examines broad societal oppression. 🌍

Overview

The video explores how discrimination often doesn't occur in isolation. Instead, many people experience multiple forms of discrimination that intersect and overlap. For example, a person may face prejudice based on gender, race, and religion all at once, intensifying their disadvantage in society.

Intersectionality, as described in the video, is crucial for fully understanding the scope and impact of discrimination. By examining where these prejudices overlap, we can more accurately gauge an individual's social disadvantage and work toward addressing these compounded issues.

Originally a feminist theory to explain women's oppression, intersectionality now serves as a broader lens for examining the multifaceted oppression present in society. Understanding these intersections helps in crafting more holistic and effective societal interventions.

Chapters

• 00:00 - 00:30: Types of Discrimination and Overlapping Areas The chapter explores the concept of multiple forms of discrimination occurring simultaneously. It discusses various types of discrimination such as sex, gender, culture, and race, usually examined in isolation. The focal point is understanding what happens when these forms of discrimination overlap and how individuals with intersecting characteristics can be affected.
• 00:30 - 01:00: Example of Intersectionality with Overlapping Areas The chapter discusses the concept of intersectionality through a specific example. It focuses on a woman who faces discrimination in multiple areas due to her overlapping identities as a female, African American, and a practitioner of Buddhist teachings. Within the societal context, these intersecting identities can lead to discrimination in at least three different areas. The chapter also suggests visualizing these discriminations as overlapping circles.
• 01:00 - 01:30: Understanding Intersectionality and Its Importance This chapter discusses the concept of intersectionality and its significance. It illustrates how an individual's identity can be shaped by the intersection of various factors such as sexual gender, racial or cultural identification, and religious beliefs. The chapter emphasizes the importance of recognizing these intersections to understand the complexities of individual experiences and identities.
• 01:30 - 02:00: Comprehensive Understanding of Intersectionality The chapter titled 'Comprehensive Understanding of Intersectionality' delves into the concept of intersectionality, which explores how different categories of potential discrimination or oppression can intersect. It emphasizes the significance of understanding these intersections to fully comprehend the level of disadvantage an individual may experience in society. The theory of intersectionality acknowledges that various factors can compound and interplay in a single individual, significantly affecting their societal standing.
• 02:00 - 02:30: Historical Context and Expansion of Intersectionality The chapter discusses the concept of intersectionality, highlighting the importance of understanding how different forms of discrimination overlap and coexist. It emphasizes the need to consider multiple factors simultaneously to fully comprehend a situation, using the example of an individual's interest in Buddhist teachings in an unappreciative culture.

Intersectionality | Social Inequality | MCAT | Khan Academy Transcription

• 00:00 - 00:30 - [Voiceover] There are many different types of discrimination, including things like discrimination based on sex, gender, culture, race and other factors. We can often consider these things in isolation. But what happens when someone experiences multiple forms of discrimination at the same time? What happens when we have overlapping areas of discrimination? One of the things that can happen is that we can have individuals in our society that have characteristics that can result
• 00:30 - 01:00 in them facing discrimination in multiple different areas. For example, we can have a female who is of African American origin, and who, for example, practices Buddhist teachings, and in a particular society within our country that may cause her to be discriminated against in three different areas. So, if we were to draw her circles of discrimination,
• 01:00 - 01:30 what would her overlap look like? She may have one overlap based on her sexual gender. She may have one overlap based on her racial or cultural identification, and she may have another circle based on her religious ideas. Right in the center, we have this level of extreme overlap. Right at the intersection. Now, why is it important to consider this intersection of these three different areas?
• 01:30 - 02:00 It's important because at this intersection is multiple different categories of potential discrimination or oppression may compound an interplay in this one individual, and really significantly put her at a disadvantage within society. In order to understand the level of disadvantage that she has, we really need to understand all three of these factors. The theory of intersectionality really states just that. It really focuses on the point
• 02:00 - 02:30 in which these multiple different areas of potential discrimination overlap with one another, and exist along side one another. We really need to understand when all of these things coexist, because if we don't consider all of them at the same time, we really don't get to fully understand the situation. So, in this individual, if we just consider the fact that she likes Buddhist teachings, in a culture or society that really doesn't appreciate that,
• 02:30 - 03:00 and we miss the fact that the society also doesn't appreciate the fact that she's female, or discriminates against African Americans. We may not fully understand the level of discrimination that she faces. And the same situation would result if we only considered the fact that she was female in the sexist society, or that she was African American in a racist society. So, this theory of intersectionality really asks us to consider all of the different levels of discrimination.
• 03:00 - 03:30 While the theory was originally coined in 1989 by Crenshaw as a feminist theory to explain the oppression of women, it has since really expanded out. People of then really use it to explain oppression and discrimination found in all parts of society.