We have her to thank for much of the thoughtful inclusiveness of today’s resistance movements. Kimberlé coined the term ‘Intersectionality’ in 1989, advancing a way of thinking that totally changed feminism forever. Yes, she’s heroic.
Grateful for the opportunity to SayHerName at #TED. Intersectional politics now more than ever!https://t.co/cQzsVV4Zp5 via @TEDTalks
— Kimberle Crenshaw (@sandylocks) November 14, 2016
She was specifically interested in how our institutions—like the law—separated issues of identity like gender and race. She showed us that these identities intersect in relation to systems of oppression and domination, which until then, was a connection missing from feminist and anti-racist advocacy. In order to rebuild the institutions of our society, we must see how they overlap and feed off of each other.
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Realizing that our struggles are interconnected makes our movements stronger and we’re seeing it now: Black dads marching on Washington for gender equality, shoulder-to-shoulder with their trans friends. White women stepping up for their Black sisters and yelling #SayHerName. Gender-queer and two-spirit Native Americans recognize that they have similar struggles, and they are resisting together.
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Resistance for everyone is the kind of resilience that lasts.
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