What is intersectionality? Intersectionality is a term coined by legal scholar Kimberlé Crenshaw to describe how different forms of discrimination can interact, overlap, and compound each other. It suggests that oppressive systems such as racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, ableism, classism, ageism, etc. may be mutually reinforcing, so that people who experience multiple forms of marginalization face unique challenges. How does this apply to social pressures about sexuality?
Intersectionality affects how societies view and treat sexual expression. Sexuality can be defined broadly as any aspect of one's identity relating to sexual attraction, orientation, behavior, practices, preferences, fantasies, pleasure, desires, etc. These aspects are influenced by many factors including gender roles, family dynamics, religion, ethnic background, cultural norms, education, income, physical appearance, etc. Intersectionality means these factors cannot be examined separately but rather as parts of a complex whole.
If a woman is a single parent and earns less than her partner, she may feel pressure to suppress her sexual needs for fear of losing custody or financial support. If someone has a disability, they may not have access to the same partners or activities as able-bodied people. If someone is non-binary, they may not fit into standard categories of male/female or gay/straight relationships. If someone is Muslim, they may worry about conservative attitudes towards intimacy. For a black man in America, there may be additional challenges related to racial stereotypes. A bisexual person may feel excluded from both straight and queer spaces. An older adult may struggle with body image issues.
Society creates expectations around sex that often center heterosexual white cisgender men as "normal" or ideal. This leads to discrimination against anyone who doesn't fit this mold, including LGBTQ+ people, women, people of color, disabled people, poor people, etc. It also contributes to the objectification of individuals based on their race, age, class, ability, etc., reducing them to a fetishized caricature rather than a whole human being.
The intersectional approach offers hope by recognizing that each individual is unique and worthy of respect regardless of their identity.
It can also lead to greater complications as people must navigate multiple layers of oppression simultaneously. Society must work to create safe spaces where everyone can express themselves freely without judgment or stigma.
How does intersectionality complicate social pressures about sexuality?
Intersectionality is a concept that refers to how overlapping identities and experiences interact with one another to create unique perspectives on social issues such as sexuality. This means that people of different races, genders, ethnicities, classes, and other factors may experience sexual pressure differently due to their individual backgrounds and social contexts.