Moving Beyond Intersectionality as a Critique
Abstract
Intersectionality spans different realms of academic study. Developed by Kimbrele Crenshaw (1993), intersectionality has made a significant impact in women studies, racial studies, and all manner of disciplines. Despite its prominence, the theory faces multiple methodological challenges. Applying the theory to qualitative and quantitative data collection methods has proven a difficult venture, as intersectionality is more often used to critique existing research rather than guide the methods that generate original data. Examining the implication of these difficulties, this paper outlines several challenges that make intersectionality difficult to integrate into data collection methods. Specifically, the paper addresses intersectionality and its relevance to discussions of gender and work, by identifying specific issues that make intersectionality a difficult lens to apply to gender and work research. This paper concludes with a look toward methodically applying intersectionality to different areas of gender studies beyond gender and work as well. Understanding these difficulties will allow intersectionality as a theory to become a more comprehensive and develop a better basis for change, especially in the field of gender and work studies.
Moving Beyond Intersectionality as a Critique
Intersectionality spans different realms of academic study. Developed by Kimbrele Crenshaw (1993), intersectionality has made a significant impact in women studies, racial studies, and all manner of disciplines. Despite its prominence, the theory faces multiple methodological challenges. Applying the theory to qualitative and quantitative data collection methods has proven a difficult venture, as intersectionality is more often used to critique existing research rather than guide the methods that generate original data. Examining the implication of these difficulties, this paper outlines several challenges that make intersectionality difficult to integrate into data collection methods. Specifically, the paper addresses intersectionality and its relevance to discussions of gender and work, by identifying specific issues that make intersectionality a difficult lens to apply to gender and work research. This paper concludes with a look toward methodically applying intersectionality to different areas of gender studies beyond gender and work as well. Understanding these difficulties will allow intersectionality as a theory to become a more comprehensive and develop a better basis for change, especially in the field of gender and work studies.
