Intersectionality : a brief personal and professional understanding

Abstract

This reflexive paper discusses how the author, as an academic and practitioner psychologist, engages with intersectionality Professionally and personally. Intersectionality’s location and origins in the field of African- American feminism are acknowledged. Controversies related to the concept are briefly addressed, together with criticisms that have been levelled at the theory. The ways in which multiple identities are positioned and the impact this positioning has on relationships, systems and power dynamics are considered. Furthermore, intersectionality’s inclusion in the field of psychology is reviewed. Here, the author briefly outlines how she uses intersectionality to appreciate the impact that diverse social contexts and structures have on students and clients in therapy. Specific emphasis is placed on intersectionality within the teaching of psychology at tertiary level. The complex challenges experienced by students and academics alike in navigating areas of power and privilege, and the nuances inherent in these challenges are explored.