Call for Papers: Special Issue on Intersectionality

The concept of intersectionality, popularized by legal scholar Kimberlé Crenshaw in the late 1980s, originally focused on the unique challenges faced by black women who were not only discriminated on the grounds of their gender or their race, but through combinations of the two, which could not be recognized by the legal system (Crenshaw, 1989, 1991). Beyond legal aspects, intersectional analysis emerged from the scholarship and activism among radical black feminists, who critiqued the claims of universal feminism rooted in white Western contexts (e.g Lorde, 1984; Davis, 1983). The concept of intersectionality highlights how multiple aspects of identity intersect, producing varied forms of exclusion and oppression, limiting individuals' agency, and impeding anti-patriarchal and anti-racist efforts. With the popularization of the use of the concept in the 2010s, there has been a larger debate about the origin of the term, giving increased importance to the contributions of Marxist feminists, decolonial and postcolonial feminists.

It is 18 years ago that the journal ”Women, Gender and Research” published its first special issue on the topic (Christiansen, Faber & Spanger, eds. 2006). At the time the editors argued how intersectionality problematizes identity categories while acknowledging power differences and structural dimensions. While the concept was adopted from research and activism in the USA, a key contribution of the journal is to pay attention to different socio-cultural and political contexts. In the Nordic region, intersectional research has adopted different trajectories, including poststructural orientations (e.g. Christiansen, Faber & Spanger, 2006; Villeseche, Muhr & Śliwa, 2018). Uncovering the complexities of intersectionality remains highly relevant today, as the interplay of biases, prejudice and discrimination along multiple axes of oppression continues to shape individual experiences and social realities both in the Global North and the Global South. Discussing intersectionality is crucial for understanding how various social identities, such as race, gender, class, age, sexual orientation, and ability, intersect and interact to shape individuals' experiences of oppression, privilege, and marginalization. It is equally important to address how intersectionality plays out in different spaces and times. Recognizing the ongoing need for intersectional analysis, particularly in relation to gender, this special issue in Women, Gender & Research calls for studies that explore the diverse intersections of gender.

Topics, themes, and issues of interest include but are not limited to:

Intersectional Feminisms

Exploring the evolving landscape of feminism, focusing on intersectional approaches and their relevance in addressing contemporary gender-related challenges.

Intersectionalities of Sexuality and Queer Identities

Examining the complexities of sexual orientations (including cis-het positionalities) and queer identities within the context of intersectionality, considering how multiple aspects of identity intersect with sexual orientation, impacting the LGBTQIA+ community in particular.

Global Perspectives on Gender Equity

Comparing and contrasting gender equity efforts and challenges in different regions and cultures, emphasizing the potential of intersectional analyses.

Decolonial and postcolonial perspectives

Reflecting on intersectional dimensions related to decolonial, post-colonial, and Indigenous knowledges.

Disability, Gender, and Intersectionality

Analyzing the unique experiences and obstacles faced by individuals with disabilities, especially in relation to their gender identities, and the need for inclusive policies.

Race, Ethnicity, and Gender in Academia and Education

Investigating the intersection of race, ethnicity, and gender within academic institutions, including barriers and opportunities for scholars with marginalized identities.

Media Representation and Intersectionality

Exploring how media shapes and reflects intersectional identities, addressing stereotypes, underrepresentation, and the role of media in social change.

Health and Wellbeing Disparities and Intersectionality

Examining the impact of intersectionality on health outcomes, including disparities in healthcare access, treatment, and public health interventions. Reflecting on wellbeing and flourishing across genders, out-groups, or minorities.

 Economic Empowerment and Intersectional Approaches

Discussing economic disparities and opportunities for marginalized groups, emphasizing intersectional strategies for economic empowerment and equality.

Environmental Justice through an Intersectional Lens

Investigating the intersection of gender, race, and socioeconomic factors in environmental issues, highlighting the importance of inclusive environmental policies.

Artistic Expression and Intersectionality

Discussing the role of art in expressing and challenging intersectional experiences, exploring how artists use their work to address gender and identity issues.

Feminist Cyber Law and Intersectional Digital Rights

Exploring the intersection of gender, race, and technology for example within the legal landscape. This could include considering the evolving field of feminist cyber law, and addressing issues such as online harassment, data privacy, and digital equity.

Intersectionalities of Indigenous Peoples and Climate Change

Exploring the multifaceted and interconnected impacts of climate change on Indigenous communities through an intersectional lens. Recognizing that Indigenous peoples often experience the brunt of climate-related challenges due to their unique socio-cultural, economic, and political contexts.

Intersectionalities, new materialism and relational ontologies

Studying novel understandings of identities and categorizations in the post-anthropocene through non-human and human actors, and multispecies relationality.

 

We invite submissions in either Danish or English.

 

Deadline for submission of abstract: 1 October 2024

Full paper deadline: 1 January 2025

Expected publication of issue: September 2025

 

For more information, submission and updates: https://tidsskrift.dk/KKF

Or contact one of the special issue editors:

• Sara Louise Muhr, Copenhagen Business School, Department of Business Humanities and Law: bhl@cbs.dk
• Ana María Munar, Copenhagen Business School, Department of Business Humanities and Law: bhl@cbs.dk
• Mie Plotnikof, Aarhus University, The Danish School of Education: mp@edu.au.dk
• Jacobo Ramirez, Copenhagen Business School, Department of Management, Society and Communication: msc@cbs.dk

 

References

Crenshaw, K. (1989) ‘Demarginalizing the intersection of race and sex: A black feminist critique of antidiscrimination doctrine, feminist theory, and antiracist politics’, University of Chicago Legal Forum, 1989(1): 139-167.

Crenshaw, K. (1991) ‘Mapping the margins: Intersectionality, identity politics, and violence against women of color’, Stanford Law Review, 43(6): 1241-1299.

Christiansen, C. C., Faber, S. T., & Spanger, M.  (2006) ’Intersektionalitet’, Kvinder, Køn & Forskning, (2-3): 3-5.

Davis, A. Y. (1983). Women, race & class (1st Vintage Books ed). Vintage Books.

Lorde, A. (1984). Sister outsider: Essays and speeches. Crossing Press, c2007.

Villeseche, F., Muhr, S. L., & Śliwa, M. (2018) ’From Radical Black Feminism to Postfeminist Hashtags: Re-claiming Intersectionality’, Ephemera: Theory & politics in organization, 18(1): 1-16.