Introduction:
Black feminism and the Intersectionality of gender, which is incorporated into the tissue of black feminism, becomes an essential frame through which one can see various experiences concerning several identifications. Intersectionality critiques simple ideas about girlhood that do not consider race, social class or any other variable. Psychological analysis of gender as an intersecting construct is studied here. The essay explores how critical theory, Social Learning Theory, and different psychology terms help understand the issues with diverse experiences. This part of the paper has a guided reading for the basic ideas of Intersectionality, the role of critical theory in tackling inequality issues in social learning theory, using psychological terms, and the empirical findings from 8 studies. This exploration underlines how social structures like Intersectionality and Black feminism contribute towards shaping the unique character traits that constitute an individual’s identity and experience.
Overview of Intersectionality and Black Feminism
“Intersectionality” was introduced by Kimberlé Crenshaw sometime in the late 1980s. It recognizes the interaction between race, gender, class, and sexuality or any other group of socially constructed categories. Based on Black feminism, this notion acknowledges that people’s experiences intersect with diverse identity markers. The specific black feminism, as one of the offshoots of the overall feminist agenda, recognizes black women as one group amongst others who face different sets of problems and, therefore, requires a distinct set of strategies to deal with the combined aspects of the oppressive system. Intersectionality is a guiding principle that transcends an exclusive emphasis on gender (Brassel et al., 2020). This emphasizes that one should take into consideration various identity categories simultaneously. This paradigm also questions conventional feminist standpoints that focus on the lived realities of white middle-class women. Intersectionality provides a more profound perspective about how race and gender, among other aspects, interact in the various lives that people live in.
“Black women’s standpoint” is a significant idea that occupies a central position in Black feminism. First, it recognizes that black women’s lived realities and opinions differ from those portrayed in white feminism narratives (Brassel et al., 2020). Scholars within black feminism posit that in terms of race and gender, the situation is peculiar as they are facing unique challenges which should be recognized and addressed.
We also develop a greater understanding through the concept of a matrix of domination. It is a term coined by Patricia Hill Collins referring to how intersecting hierarchies within society form an individual’s experiences. It acknowledges that oppression happens not simply because of various linked power systems (Brassel et al., 2020). Intersectional black feminism provides a broader perspective on structural inequality because the different types of oppression overlap.
As Judith Butler puts it, understanding experiences entails what she calls “performativity”. The term performance relates to the premise whereby gender has been manufactured through recurrent actions and performances. Multiple identity markers inform these performances of race, gender and class. Black feminism employing Intersectionality allows such an analysis. Hence, Black feminism underpins an intersectionality of gender that surpasses straightforward categorizations. The concept needs to address how these identities are linked and their role in shaping personal encounters (Chavez-Dueñas et al., 2021). The ideas of Intersectionality, black women’s standpoint, matrix of domination and performativity result in a deeper consideration of multiple forces that create various life situations for people, especially paying attention to the case of black women within the intersectional approach.
Section 2: Using critical theory as an approach for analyzing power inequalities.
Critical theory is based on theoretical works by figures such as Max Horkheimer and Theodor Adorno that examine relations of power and how they can be challenged. Critical theory plays an indispensable role in the context where Intersectionality aims at revealing what makes and unmaking inequality. Critical theory is based on an important concept called “power dynamics”. Such a concept entails an imbalanced distribution of authority within a society, for some people possess greater power over their fellow members (Chavez-Dueñas et al., 2021). Intersectionality considers that power structures are complex, and they depend not only on gender but also on race, social status or other characteristics of individuals identifying themselves. We can break down these power arrangements using critical theory and discover what makes up social inequality.
Critical theory is underpinned by “hegemony”. Antonio Gramsci, known as hegemony, is the dominant ideology of a group within a society. Critical theory assists us in understanding how hegemonic powers construct their dominance concerning Intersectionality. It also points to how hegemonic scripts, fashioned after the life stories of privileged people, silence the narrations and lived realities of folks at the margins and crossroads of various sexual and racial locations (Dixon, 2019). Critical theory has another important notion – emancipation. The word means freedom from oppressing institutions. Critical theory supports liberating people from different types of domination in the framework of intersection analysis. Transformative is a process which disrupts traditional power relations by reconfiguring power equally.
Another critical theory concept, like “discourse analysis”, explains the role of language and communication in the politics of force. Discourses allow us to understand how certain narratives that promote or reinforce societal perceptions that characterize one group against another are created and sustained (Dixon, 2019). When we use tools of critical analysis in discourses, they enable us to reveal hidden power patterns existing in our efforts to demolish them.
“Social critique” is central to critical theory and vital for the intersectional discourse. It allows for reexamining social norms and practices affecting diverse identity groups. Critical analysis of existing norms that continue with disparity is possible through Intersectionality to propose new approaches to equality and fairness. Accordingly, the use of critical theory in looking at power inequalities through an intersectional perspective yields a potent paradigm for unravelling and combating social structures (Grabe, 2020). Power dynamics, hegemony, emancipation, discourse analysis, and social critique are some helpful notions for analyzing how power is distributed in intersectional identities. Using critical theory helps us get closer to achieving equality and equity and destroying oppressive systems that cause an unjust world.
Section 3: As a Framework for Social Learning Theory.
Applying social learning theory advanced by Albert Bandura helps examine the Intersectionality of gender. This is all about how people observe one another as they pick up behavioural patterns and values to adjust their behaviour towards what is deemed proper by others (Grabe, 2020). Observational learning is one critical idea underpinning Social Learning Theory, as it highlights the need for people to watch others learn. Regarding Intersectionality, “observational learning” is vital because it shows how gender roles and expectations are learned. In society, individuals see and absorb behaviours that are deemed appropriate for a particular gender identity, and this is often based on race, class and other interacting determinants.
Social learning theory is centred on “modelling”. In particular, individuals imitate role models whose identities are similar or closely aligned with their cultural backgrounds. Modelling reinforces prevailing norms and gender-race-cross-cutting expectations embedded in society (Saxe, 2017). Modelling in an intersectional framework becomes complicated because sometimes people have several role models encompassing different dimensions of their intersecting identities.
This involves a process referred to as vicarious reinforcement, which denotes the process of adopting specific behaviour tendencies and attitudes when someone else gets reprimanded or awarded due to a similar action. Vicarious reinforcement occurs at the cross-section of various webs of power dynamics in Intersectionality (Saxe, 2017). People can observe that some behaviours concerning their overlapping identities are either rewarded or penalized, which would affect their choice as to how they will adopt some behaviours.
Self-efficacy is crucial as far as Social Learning Theory is concerned. This term refers to self-efficacy, which is one’s belief in oneself to complete some assignment/task or particular behaviour successfully. Self-efficacy is essential when talking about Intersectionality as it informs on how people negotiate and communicate identities within context. Intersecting factors such as race, social class, etc., form a basis for understanding how one attains “self-efficacy” based on gender role social learning (Warner et al., 2018). Thus, Social Learning Theory is a form of psychology that analyzes the intersections of gender by using ideas about observational learning, modelling, vicarious reinforcement, and self-efficacy. Such a frame permits a deeper appreciation of what causes one to develop behaviours and mindsets in a societal environment through interactions between various identity aspects (Warner et al., 2018). Applying social learning theory to an intersectional analysis provides information on how people interact with society based on multiple social identity categories such as race and socioeconomic status.
Section 4: Integration of Psychological Terms
Psychological frameworks are intersectional with gender, which requires thorough scrutiny of some terminologies from the Cengage textbook. This also enhances our comprehension of personal experiences and gives us essential knowledge of how identities interact within an intersectionally oriented framework.
Psychological investigation of Intersectionality begins with “identity development”. It refers to the complex ways in which people create their identity. The Intersectionality of gender involves a complex construction of multiple identities that include issues like race, social class, and sexuality (Warner et al., 2018). The growth of identity is paramount and must be understood when unravelling individual experiences within overlapping social categories.
“Stereotype threat” is an element of Intersectionality that makes people feel anxious when expected not to act by negatively perceived collective characteristics. This concept becomes more critical when focusing on the Intersectionality of gender because various individuals who are subject to multiple social stigmas may face cumulative stereotypes (Hollis, 2022), such as how black women can move around from the racial and gendered stereotypes that impact various aspects of their lives such as academic, professional, and social sphere.
“Cultural competence” becomes a necessary concept for explaining the intersectional relations within gender. This ability entails successful communication with persons from different cultures. Cultural competencies, in this case, are not limited to embracing differences between men and women but also incorporate consideration of a multicast perspective and Intersectionality. This phrase highlights the need to give regard to one’s cultural background in any case that involves gender issues in diverse settings (Zota et al., 2021). It becomes apparent in the psychology dimension that the socialization element comes up when exploring the Intersectionality of gender.
“Socialization” includes several ways people take on what may be described as societal standards, beliefs, or behaviour. Using a perspective of Intersectionality, socialization shapes conceptions of gender, gender expectations and the construction of individual identities, considering multiple layers like race, ethnicity and class. Socialization processes become crucial to understanding how people make sense of society’s expectations regarding interlinked identities. The most crucial aspect of any psychological analysis of different experiences is prejudice (Zota et al., 2021). It includes prejudice against individuals with differences in opinions, attitudes and beliefs. Prejudices interact and compound in an intersectional context, leading to distinct acts of discrimination. Exposing the intricate aspects of prejudice among people with multiple subordinated identities is critical to overcoming systematic bias.
Social identity theory makes remarkable contributions to understanding the inter-sectionalism of gender within a psychological framework. This theory explains where one gets his or her self-identity from belonging to different types of groups. Social identity theory forms part of Intersectionality, which focuses on how different social identities affect individuals’ experiences, perceptions, and social interactions (Zota et al., 2021). Going through the psychological terms about this Intersectionality of gender gives us an insight into the complex psychology behind various experiences. They point out towards understanding how identities interact in the broader concept of Intersectionality.
Research Studies Supporting Intersectionality:
The eight research studies discussed in the previous section provide critical insights into the Intersectionality of gender. These studies highlight the importance of considering the Intersectionality of gender, race, ethnicity, culture, and disability in research and practice.
Brassel et al. (2020) conducted a study on the sexual harassment of Black queer women at work. The study highlights the importance of Intersectionality in understanding the unique experiences of Black queer women in the workplace. This study emphasizes the need to consider the Intersectionality of gender, race, and sexual orientation in research and practice.
Chavez-Dueñas and Adames (2021) developed the Intersectionality Awakening Model of Womanista, a transnational treatment approach for Latinx women. The model emphasizes the importance of considering the Intersectionality of gender, race, and ethnicity in treating Latinx women. This study highlights the need to consider the Intersectionality of gender, race, and ethnicity in developing treatment approaches.
Dixon (2019) studied the Intersectionality of cultural identities in health psychology. The study provides critical recommendations for working with African-Caribbean immigrant women and highlights the importance of considering the Intersectionality of gender, race, and culture in health psychology. This study emphasizes the need to consider the Intersectionality of gender, race, and culture in research and practice.
Grabe (2020) discusses research methods for studying Intersectionality in psychology. The author provides examples informed by a decade of collaborative work with most women’s grassroots activism. This study highlights the need to consider the Intersectionality of gender, race, ethnicity, culture, and other social identities in research and practice.
Saxe (2017) discusses the theory of Intersectionality and its application to understanding the barriers faced by autistic women. The author highlights the importance of considering the Intersectionality of gender and disability in understanding the experiences of autistic women. This study emphasizes the need to consider the Intersectionality of gender, disability, and other social identities in research and practice.
Warner et al. (2018) discuss intersectionality theory in the psychology of women. The authors highlight the importance of considering the Intersectionality of gender, race, and other social identities in understanding women’s experiences. This study emphasizes the need to consider the Intersectionality of gender, race, and other social identities in research and practice.
Zota and VanNoy (2021) discuss the integration of Intersectionality into the exposome paradigm, a novel approach to understanding racial inequities in uterine fibroids. This study highlights the need to consider the Intersectionality of gender, race, and environmental factors in research and practice.
Hollis (2022) discusses the Intersectionality of Black women and workplace bullying. The author highlights the importance of considering the Intersectionality of gender, race, and other social identities in understanding the experiences of Black women in the workplace. This study emphasizes the need to consider the Intersectionality of gender, race, and other social identities in research and practice. Overall, these studies provide critical insights into the Intersectionality of gender and highlight the importance of considering the Intersectionality of gender, race, ethnicity, culture, disability, and other social identities in research and practice. They inform and support the paper’s arguments by providing evidence of the complex nature of gender and the need to consider multiple social identities in research and practice.
Conclusion:
Finally, our walk across the intersection of gender based on black feminism unveils the intricate mosaic of human existence crafted at the crossroads of gender, race, and other identities. The intersectional approach as a starting point leads through to critical theory and social learning theory that highlight complex frameworks required for psychological analyses. Various vital psychological terms also add to our understanding and provide an integrated picture of identity formation. Additionally, eight research studies provide some empirical support for recognizing these multiple factors in making sense of different experiences. This paper suggests that while studying Intersectionality or black feminism, psychologists should consider the multi-faceted character of identity, as it is the only proper way of gaining deeper insight into social transformation.
References
Brassel, S. T., Davis, T. M., Jones, M. K., Miller-Tejada, S., Thorne, K. M., & Areguin, M. A. (2020). The importance of Intersectionality for research on the sexual harassment of Black queer women at work. Translational Issues in Psychological Science, 6(4), 383. https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2020-66065-001
Chavez-Dueñas, N. Y., & Adames, H. Y. (2021). Intersectionality Awakening Model of Womanista: A transnational treatment approach for Latinx women. Women & Therapy, 44(1-2), 83-100. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/02703149.2020.1775022
Dixon, S. (2019). Intersectionality of cultural identities in health psychology: key recommendations for working with African-Caribbean immigrant women. Frontiers in Sociology, pp. 4, 51. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsoc.2019.00051/full
Grabe, S. (2020). Research methods in Intersectionality in psychology: Examples informed by a decade of collaborative work with majority world women’s grassroots activism. Frontiers in Psychology, p. 11, 494309. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.494309/full
Saxe, A. (2017). The theory of Intersectionality: A new lens for understanding the barriers faced by autistic women. Canadian Journal of Disability Studies, 6(4), 153–178. https://cjds.uwaterloo.ca/index.php/cjds/article/view/386
Warner, L. R., Settles, I. H., & Shields, S. A. (2018). Intersectionality theory in the psychology of women. https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2017-45479-027
Zota, A. R., & Vannoy, B. N. (2021). Integrating Intersectionality into the exposome paradigm: a novel approach to racial inequities in uterine fibroids. American Journal of Public Health, 111(1), 104–109. https://ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/abs/10.2105/AJPH.2020.305979
Hollis, L. P. (2022). Black women, Intersectionality, and workplace bullying: intersecting distress. Taylor & Francis. https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=bUl0EAAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PT8&dq=women-Intersectionality+theory+in+the+psychology&ots=CropkamlJs&sig=f33CEqg3RtM47xpO0ww9qytgo8A
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