In this essay, I will explore how intersectionality affects students' experience of discrimination in schools. Intersectionality is a concept that recognizes the interconnected nature of different social categories such as race, gender, class, disability, religion, and sexual orientation. It suggests that these factors interact to create unique experiences of oppression and marginalization for individuals. In schools, students who identify with multiple socially stigmatized groups may face discrimination that cannot be understood through traditional single-axis models of discrimination. By examining the experiences of students at an elite private school in New York City, I argue that the way students navigate their intersecting identities can either mitigate or exacerbate their experiences of discrimination.
Imagine a student named Alex who identifies as a person of color, female, middle class, disabled, and LGBTQ+. She may experience discrimination based on all five of her identities at once.
She may also find ways to mediate some of these identities to minimize the impact of discrimination.
When Alex's peers make fun of her disability, she may downplay it by saying she "just" has dyslexia rather than focusing on her more serious condition of ADHD. This allows her to deflect attention away from her disability and focus on other aspects of herself. Similarly, when her teachers assume she is wealthy because of her elite school and fail to provide adequate support, she may emphasize her working-class roots and argue that she needs more help. Thus, intersectional identities can become both sources of strength and vulnerability in navigating school experiences.
This essay demonstrates how intersectionality complicates our understanding of discrimination in schools. Students' experiences are shaped not just by one identity but by many interlocking factors. Schools must recognize and address these complex dynamics if they want to create truly equitable learning environments for all students.
How do intersectional identities mediate experiences of discrimination in schools?
School settings can often be difficult for students who identify with multiple marginalized groups due to intersecting forms of oppression and discrimination. This is because these identities may lead them to experience microaggressions and other forms of discriminatory behavior from their peers and teachers, which can negatively impact their self-esteem, academic performance, and overall well-being.