What is intersectionality?

You might have heard or seen the word ‘intersectionality’ floating around but what does it mean and how does it apply to LGBTQ+ carers?

What does intersectionality mean?

Intersectionality is a tool or framework that takes into account a person’s various identities and how they might overlap and combine to form different experiences of discrimination, oppression or disadvantage. It was originally developed by Dr Kimberlé Crenshaw in 1989 to explore the combined impact of gender and racial discrimination. It is now more widely applied and can include any identity or social categorisation that may cause someone to experience discrimination (or privilege). For example, race, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, religion, disability, and socioeconomic status. Intersectionality gives us the framework and language to communicate our unique lived experience of the world. 

What does intersectionality  mean for LGBTQ+ carers?

It is the added barriers, challenges and discrimination people might experience as a result of being an unpaid carer and identifying as a member of the LGBTQ+ community. We explored some of these unique challenges in our first blog. In relation to accessing support, this can include the assumption that an LGBTQ+ carer is heterosexual or assuming a heteronormative family set up between the carer and the person cared for. It can also include discrimination from health and social care providers as well as a fear of discrimination. As one carer explains in our carers’ stories blog series, this extra layer of uncertainty as to how services will react is off putting and distracting. It is the meeting of these two identities that makes the experience of LGBTQ+ unpaid carers accessing health and social care unique. This is not considering any other factors such as age, race and disability that further impact on the experience of LGBTQ+ unpaid carers.

What about you?

Everyone can think about intersectionality in relation to themselves. Use the examples in the image above in relation to yourself. Is there a part of your identity that is most misunderstood? Is there a part or parts that are most discriminated against? What type of challenges do you face at the point where these factors overlap? Which part of your identity gives you the most privilege? Understanding intersectionality in relation to ourselves can help us to start understanding the lived experience and challenges faced by individuals and communities. It can also help us get a clearer view of people's identities and highlight work that needs to be done to address inequalities and injustices.

Published on 24/04/2023 by Keisha Tomlinson