In this course we have examined many different social identities, as well as the ways in which these identities are tied to social inequalities. However, individuals have multiple identities, and oftentimes more than one of their identities are connected to social inequalities. Sociologists account for this by examining identities within an intersectional framework. The theory of intersectionality states that we must look at the relationships among multiple dimensions of social identities in order to understand the lived experiences of discrimination and inequality. For example, the theory of intersectionality would state that an African American woman would not experience sexism in the same way that a white woman would, and would not experience racism in the same way that an African American male would. Rather, the intersecting identities of female and African American create a unique identity, and thus a unique experience.
For this discussion, watch this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2kUpKP18z8 for a comprehensive discussion of intersectionality, and read this https://www8.gsb.columbia.edu/newsroom/newsn/2214/gender-and-race-how-overlapping-stereotypes-affect-interracial-dating-leadership-selection-and-athletic-participation that explores several real-world consequences that can arise when racial and gender stereotypes overlap. Finally, watch this short clip of the TV show . https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ABRlWybBqM
Use these resources to address the following:
- In your own words, describe the theory of intersectionality and why it is important to understanding the multiple social identities of an individual.
- Describe an example from your own life where you have experienced overlapping identities and ensuing inequalities. If you havent experienced this, explore why you may not have.
- In the clip from What Would You Do, how did the reactions of people to the bike thief differ by his/her race/gender? In particular, in what ways do societys stereotypes of young men differ by race?
Your initial post should be at least 250 words in length. Support your claims with examples from the required material(s) and/or scholarly resources, and properly cite any references
