What if I told you that you can be both an oppressed person *and* someone with privilege? Would you believe me? If that idea feels confusing, keep reading. You’ll gain a deeper understanding of how the intersection of your identities shapes your experience, and how you can use your privilege as a bridge toward equality, rather than a barrier that highlights inequities.

Written by Madi Sparkman

What is Intersectionality?

Let’s get to the basics. Intersectionality – a term coined by the incomparable Kimberle Crenshaw, an attorney, professor, and scholar. The term, in itself, is what it sounds like. The intersections of the things that embody the essence of your being. For example, your race, gender, hair color, health condition, sexual orientation, sexual preference, geographic location…the list truly goes on. Although the term had been utilized well before Crenshaw’s time by ingenious change-makers like Soujouner Truth and Julia Cooper, to name a few. What made Crenshaw’s rendition of intersectionality so novel was her lived experience at Cornell University that exposed a gap in research and representation in gender-based oppression in the context of race.

Privilege vs Oppression

Having given a crash course on intersectionality and its origins, it is important to explore how we, as a society, determine which identities fall under “privileged” and which fall under “oppressed.” Intersectionality is what holds the picture of oppression and privilege in America. Privilege is created on the basis of social constructs and institutions in our society, stemming back to the origins of America and our relationship with “isms”. You know the ones: racism, sexism, ageism, ableism – picture painted, yes?

Now, onto one of the more important things — how to check your privilege and nurture the impact of your oppression. To check your privilege you must first acknowledge its existence. Privilege is defined as, “a special right, advantage, or immunity granted by or available only to a particular person or group.” These advantages become challenging because of the emotional experience attached to it. As humans, we often experience cognitive dissonance - an uncomfortable arousal state that occurs when met with information that doesn’t align with how we view ourselves. For example, if you see yourself as a “good” person you wouldn’t steal. However, if you suddenly find yourself stealing, you might change your view on the act entirely, or in certain circumstances, to maintain your idea of yourself as a good person. Given this - it makes sense to deny your privilege initially as an attempt to maintain your sense of self. Here’s the thing though - as humans we are meaning-makers. You get to decide what it means to carry privileged identities, and what you wish to do with it. Reflect on that meaning, give yourself the chance to see your privilege as a call to action, a daily habit, a moral compass.

To nurture your oppression you must separate yourself from it. Simply put — your oppression is not all of you, only a part of you. Allowing yourself to see the beauty and ingeniousness that lies within can awaken an ability to experience joy and pain simultaneously. This is a game changer in the name of sustainability. Next, feel your feelings - anger to be specific. Anger is the emotion commonly experienced in response to oppression. To do this sustainably, observe instead of absorb your emotions. Notice them with curiosity, listen for the stories and lessons they can share.