Intersectionality: Origins, Contestations, Horizons

Intersectionality is a 2017 Choice Outstanding Academic Title that examines the effects of racial, gendered, and class power on people's lives. Anna Carastathis argues that it is a horizon that illuminates ways of thinking that have yet to be realized and calls for a provisional interpretation to disorient habits of essentialism, categorical purity, and prototypicality. Its roots in social justice movements and critical intellectual projects must be retraced and synthesized with a decolonial analysis to enact its potential to actualize coalitions.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 300 pages
Publication date: 01 May 2019
Publisher: University of Nebraska Press

Intersectionality is a groundbreaking concept that delves into the intricate interplay of racial, gendered, and class power, shaping the lives of individuals. While the term "intersectionality" has gained popularity, Anna Carastathis, among other critical voices, advocates for a more nuanced and thoughtful approach. Challenging the prevailing narratives surrounding intersectionality, she posits that it represents a horizon, shedding light on untapped ways of thinking. Consequently, calls to "go beyond" intersectionality are premature, as intersectionality holds the potential to transform our understanding of the world.

A provisional interpretation of intersectionality can disrupt the habits of essentialism, categorical purity, and prototypicality, and counteract the dynamics of segregation and subordination within political movements. By closely examining the seminal texts of critical race theorist Kimberlé Williams Crenshaw, published more than twenty-five years ago, Carastathis encourages analytic clarity, contextual rigor, and a politicized and historicized understanding of this pervasive concept.

Intersectionality's origins lie in social justice movements and critical intellectual projects, particularly black feminism. It is essential to trace these roots and synthesize them with a decolonial analysis to fully realize intersectionality's potential to forge coalitions. By doing so, we can create a more inclusive and equitable society that recognizes the multifaceted identities and experiences of individuals.

Weight: 452g
Dimension: 152 x 228 x 22 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781496212481