Envisioning the Possibilities for a Good Life: Exploring the Public Policy Implications of Intersectionality Theory

Abstract

SUMMARY.Public policy is one of the younger, interdisciplinary subfields in the social sciences, but one of the most promising in terms of its social relevance. While public policy has made major strides in terms of analytical and methodological development, it has largely ignored the development of intersectional theory-a broad theoretical paradigm that has much to offer public policy scholars. In this article, the author discusses the contribution made by intersectionality scholars to the social sciences and advances ways in which intersectionality theory could extend efforts to elucidate public policy outcomes and women's political leadership. We don't live linear lives, so we can't think of or forge a linear analysis. If we care, for example, about the way people live in cities, we can't just think about race, but also about age, ethnicity, class, and spatial needs. Intersectionality is a big word, but it can occupy a small space when we realize that our lives are all about intersections.-Julianne Malveaux, "Intersectionality-Big Word for Small Lives"

The Theory and Praxis of Intersectionality in Work and Organisations: Where Do We Go From Here?

“…Institutional change. The policy domain seems a natural fit for interventions to disrupt systemic power dynamics at the institutional level (Manuel, 2006;Phoenix and Pattynama, 2006). However, despite efforts to mainstream intersectionality in policy making (Eveline et al, 2009;Hankivsky and Cormier, 2011;Hawthorne, 2004;Squires, 2005;Verloo, 2006;Verloo et al, 2012), implementation remains challenging.…”

‘Red dust homelessness’: Housing, home and homelessness in remote Australia

“…Multiple meanings and experiences of home and homelessness intersect and are imbued in power relations, social locations and identity categories, to constitute practices in 'everyday life' (Christensen and Jensen, 2012;Manuel, 2006; Thornton-Dill and Kohlman, 2012). The importance of understanding people's lives in remote areas of Australia is critical to making relevant social policy that has the potential to redress social inequalities, such as between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal populations, as well as urban and remote populations.…”

The Influence of Incarceration on Children at the Intersection of Parental Gender and Race/Ethnicity: A Focus on Child Living Arrangements

“…Effective public policies may recognize the differing social locations of individuals (Manuel, 2007;Manuel & Zambrana, 2009). Policies aimed at assisting children and families with maternal imprisonment may be refined by taking account of multiple living arrangements of children in these circumstances to most fully meet their needs including coping with residential as well as caregiver changes.…”