A response to Erica Burman

Abstract

This paper aims to provide a critique of Erica Burman's paper, 'From difference to Intersectionality'. It attempts to identify and trace the uses, and potential abuses, of the concept of intersectionality within the precarious debate of 'difference', through a socio-politico and self-narrative analysis. Erica Burman's paper 'From difference to intersectionality: challenges and resources' had an immense impact on me. From the moment Burman began to give it, at the 2003 UPCA 'Enabling Difference' Conference in Oxford, I could feel myself becoming variously affected by what was being said. For me this is the mark of a good paper -something that makes you want to start up a dialogue.Intersectionality analysis was developed in the 1980s and 1990s by legal academics who were concerned by the realities of the legal status of black women and how they differed significantly in comparison to black and white men and white women. Their central focus was how race, gender and class interact for black women within a system of white male patriarchy and racist oppression. Intersectional analysis names and describes these hidden acts of multiple discrimination and how they obfuscate damaging power relations, and it also brings to the fore how they construct, while paradoxically obviating, identities of self. There are numerous theorists who are currently using intersectional analysis to plough up concealed multiple discriminations within Western societies. This crucial act of deconstruction was notably sparked by individuals Eur.

Engendering Immigrant Psychology: An Intersectionality Perspective

“…On the other hand, it can also reinforce male privilege, restrict expression of alternate sexualities and hinder help-seeking behaviors of immigrant women who are in abusive relationships. Thus, intersecting connections also can also have fluid and unstable elements that can coexist with empowering aspects of idealized identities (Fernandes 2003).…”

Theorizing and Researching Intersectionality: A Challenge for Feminist Geography*

“…Minow (1997, 38) defines intersectionality as “the way in which any particular individual stands at the crossroads of multiple groups.”Fernandes (2003, 309) explains that “intersectional analysis names and describes these hidden acts of multiple discrimination and how they obfuscate damaging power relations, and it also brings to the fore how they construct, while paradoxically obviating, identities of the self.” In other words, intersectionality captures the recognition that difference is located “not in the spaces between identities but in the spaces within” (Fuss 1989). Despite contemporary interest in and attempts to develop the theorization of intersectionality within the social sciences (Brah and Phoenix 2004; Burman 2004; McCall 2005), feminist geographers have not really engaged directly with this debate.…”

“…In this way they trouble rather than reinforce identity demarcations. Fernandes (2003) suggests that this approach to intersectionality picks up on the full meaning of the word “difference”: clash, conflict, contention, controversy, debate, disagreement, discord, dispute.…”

Oppression of the different: impact and treatment

“…And, segregation can deny networking and other opportunities to those who are pushed to the periphery. At times, the A rich body of feminist and psychology literature examines the intersection of multiple identity group memberships on the cognitive, affective and behavioral experiences of individuals (see for example, Burman, 2004;Fernandes, 2003;Hulko, 2009;Lorde, 1984Lorde, /2007Purdie-Vaughns & Eibach, 2008;Samuels & Ross-Sheriff, 2008). As previously stated, subordinated group members approaching the "mythical norm" enjoy relatively more privilege than those who may be further afi eld in this regard.…”