Intersectionality and Social Systems

Bogard, 1999 Quote

“We exist in social contests created by the intersections of systems of power… and oppression”

What is a Social System?

·      Network of relationships between individuals, groups, and institutions.

§  individual - each individual person

§  groups - groups we belong to, family units, workplaces, faith groups, countries

§  institutions – universities, banks, governments, laws, media                 

·      We belong to multiple social systems – both big and small.    

·      Feminism is concerned with social systems.       

·      gives some people power and other people are marginalized

·      Learn more about some of the tools to better understand privilege

·      gives some people power and other people are marginalized

·      Learn more about some of the tools to better understand privilege

The Medical Model 

·      These documentaries contest the medical model

·      The medical model is the find it and fix it up approach-

·      Don’t take into consideration other factors-

·      Documentaries contest the medical model-

·      Called the find it and fix it up approach

·      Trying to find solutions into other ailments

·      Doctors thought it was a disease

·      Without looking at other characteristics

·      Being born intersex is normal and don’t pose any problems  for them

·      These children has to be hidden away and subjected to painful and humiliated procedures

·      Now being intersex is just another way you can be human

·      Explore the ways trans people are marginalized because the solution order relies on sex and gender binary

Social Systems

Feminist thinkers:

·      argue social systems perpetuate inequality and allow other people to have a lot of privilege;

·      urge us to focus on critiquing and changing social systems;

·      claim it is important to look closely at social systems, big and small, to examine how these perpetuate oppression. 

School Systems

Consider:

·      How many visibly ‘out’ teachers are out there?

·      How many stories, poems, films, etc. show quality representations of LGTBQI characters?

·      Are students punished for using 'gay' as a joke or insult? Do schools have gender inclusive washrooms and change rooms?

·      Do ceremonies like prom king and queen allow people to express their sexual orientations?

Governments

Consider:

·      When was same sex marriage legal? How do laws marginalize people who are not heterosexual? 

Religious/Faith Groups

Consider:

·      What role have these groups historically played in marginalizing the LGTBQI community?

·      What role do they play today in perpetuating this marginalization? 

 

Media

Consider:

·      Are there positive (or any?) representations of LGTBQI* characters in shows?

Sojourner Truth – The mother of Intersectional Feminism

·      Well, children, where there is so much racket there must be something out of kilter. I think that ‘twixt the negroes of the South and the women of the North, all talking about rights, the white men will be in a fix pretty soon.

·      But what’s all this here talking about? That man over there says that women need to be helped into carriages and lifted over ditches, and to have the best place everywhere. Nobody ever helps me into carriages, or over mud-puddles, or gives me any best place! And ain’t I a woman? Look at me! Look at my arm! I could have ploughed and planted, and gathered into barns, and no man could head me! And ain’t I a woman?

·      I could work as much and eat as much as a man- when I could get it- and bear the lash as well! And ain’t I a woman? I have borne thirteen children, and seen them most all sold off to slavery, and when I cried out with my mother’s grief, none but Jesus heard me! And ain’t I a woman?

·      Then they talk about this thing in the head; what’s this they call it? [Intellect, somebody whispers] That’s it, honey. What’s that got to do with women’s rights or negro’s rights? If my cup won’t hold but a pint, and yours holds a quart, wouldn’t you be mean not to let me have my little half measure-full?

·      Then that little man in black there, he says women can’t have as much rights as men, ’cause Christ wasn’t a woman! Where did your Christ come from? Where did your Christ come from? From God and a woman! Man had nothing to do with Him. If the first woman God ever made was strong enough to turn the world upside down all alone, these women together ought to be able to turn it back, and get it right side up again! And now they is asking to do it, the men better let them. Obliged to you for hearing me, and now old Sojourner ain’t got nothing more to say.”

·      Sojourner Truth (born Isabella Baumfree).

·      Escaped slavery in 1826.

·      Gave a speech in 1851 in Akron, Ohio to a group of suffragettes.

·      Was subject to racism and sexism.

·      Mother of intersectional feminism.

·      Black women felt marginalized and ignored within both movements.

·      Black Feminist Thought explores the ways racism and sexism overlap and intersect.

Intersectionality

·      Kimberlé Crenshaw, coined the term in 1989 in her groundbreaking essay "Demarginalizing the Intersection of Race and Sex: a Black Feminist Critique of Anti-discrimination Doctrine, Feminist Theory and Antiracist Politics.

·      A theory. 

·      A method. 

·      Not additive.

·      An individual is defined by their dynamic and intersecting identities.

·      Race, class, gender, and other individual characteristics intersect and overlap. 

·      As a forty-nine-year-old Black lesbian feminist Socialist mother of two, including a boy, and a member of an inter-racial couple, I usually find myself a part of some group defines as other, deviant, inferior, or just plain wrong.” - Audre Lorde, 2007

·      Intersectionality now accounts for multiple and overlapping types of oppression, such as 

·      -Ableism (marginalization against people with disabilities)

·      -Racism

·      -Sexism

·      -Homophobia

·      -Transphobia

·      -Classism (discrimination based on social class, i.e.: money)

·      And others. 

·      “As a forty-nine-year-old Black lesbian feminist Socialist mother of two, including a boy, and a member of an inter-racial couple, I usually find myself a part of some group defines as other, deviant, inferior, or just plain wrong.” -   Audre Lorde, 2007

What is Intersectionality?

·      Refers to the study of the interconnections between different systems, social processes, and representations of discrimination and oppression.

·      Allows people to understand one another on a broader spectrum, instead of by one trait.

·      Using Intersectionality also helps people find common ground with others and to better relate to the people around them.

Privileged Identities

·      shape our attitudes, behaviors, worldviews, and experiences

·      privileged groups (for example, male, white, heterosexual, middle or upper class, educated)

Oppressed Groups

·      Oppressed groups (women, person of color, members of LGTBQI*, individuals with disabilities, poor or working class).

Structural Intersectionality

·      Systematic barriers discriminate persons who live at the intersection of multiple social locations.

·      The focus is on oppressions or life circumstances overlaps with other social factors.

·       Severity of systematic discrimination is exacerbated by the multitude of social locations 

Political Intersectionality

·      Analyzes structures beyond individual experience and is concerned with the intersections of political agendas and projects.

·      Political systems, advocacy initiatives, and public policies are often designed to privilege certain groups of people while oppressing others.

·      Political systems and public policies neglect to account for the complexities of social location.

Representational Intersectionality

·      Certain social identities are stereotypically exploited in popular media through negative portrayals.

·      Media portrayals that perpetuate stereotypes are often accepted by the group that they are misrepresenting.

Documentary- intersectionality

·      Gender policy and race policy combines an intersectional discrimination structure

·      Representational scheme that allowed white women to represent everyone, even if their perspectives and experiences are different

·      Intersectional failures of the past trojan horse of today

·      My brothers keeper, Obama- the need to address those who have fallen behind, someone in need of repair-

·      But who needs repair, from what

·      Why are not girls and women included in the abuse

·      Black boys are expelled and suspended three times that of white boys

·      For girls it is 6 times that, in Boston and NYC is it 10 times

·      Racial barrier that plays out withing girls

·      Thought about racism primarily about men, not women

·      Say her name-

·      How intersectionality is not a model

·      To draw attention to how black women are addressed

Intersectionality With Regard To Disability

·      The history

·      Societies have attempted to explain in the social order

·      Neolithic tribes-

·      Caused by spirits:

·      Skull surgeries to release evil spirits

·      Ancient Greeks-

·      Believed people with disabilities are not human and should be left to die

·      Standing in a way of a perfect world

·      Gave systems to people with disabilities and would

·      Abandoned disabled children to die

·      Justify these actions are defining these children as not fully human

·      Julies cease who has explains and would claim to have visions

·      Asia people view disabilities as in western culture’s

·      People with disabilities would be forced to beg for food

·      Viewed not as negatively as in western culture

Disability in History

·      Neolithic tribes-

·      caused by spirits;

·      skull surgeries to release evil spirits.

·      Spartans:

·      left individuals with disabilities to die in the countryside.

·      Ancient Greeks believed disabled persons should be abandoned to die.

·      Plato saw individuals with disabilities as standing in the way of the perfect world.

·      Disabled persons should be hidden in some mysterious places.

·      The Romans rendered assistance to adult persons with disabilities, but at times abandoned deformed and disabled infant children to die.

·      The Romans did not perceive the disabilities that did not manifest in physical differences as problematic. For instance, Julius Cesar who suffered from epilepsy, and claimed to have visions during his seizures.

·      In ancient Asia people with disabilities were often forced to beg for sustenance.

·      Religious vows of poverty common in some parts of Asia.

·      In Asia the act of begging was not view negatively.

The Old Testament

·      Judeo-Christian and Muslim scripture portray disability negatively.

·      The Bible and Koran link disability to sin and evil.

·      People with disabilities were thought to be possessed by demons.

·      Old Testament - deformed individuals were prohibited from officiating in priesthood rites.

·       Disability was not universally condemned.

·      Bible and Karon references disability to sin and evil

·      Deaf and blind without understanding

·      Sinners to ancient Hebrews and people with disability to them

·      Disabled people were banned from entering the believes

·      Disability was not universally condemned

·      Old Testament-

·      Portrays as disability as a rising from sin- blindness and other disabilities was believed to be

·      Those with disabilities as mental illness was thought to be possessed by demons

·      Julia and christen was prevalent with people during the middle wages-

·      People with disability thought to be shunned by god

·      People with disability was continues to be explain in out of harmony with God and the universe

·      Rejected by society

·      Some even burned at a stake

·      Churches believed people with disabilities created an opportunity to practice

·      People with leprose was segregated

·      Some even burned at a stake

·      Churches believed people with disabilities created an opportunity to practice

·      People with leprose was segregated

 

Disability

·      Susan Wendell

·      Definitions vary over time and across culture.

·      Disability is shaped by epistemological imaginaries.

·      Having a disability is not only a physical and a mental condition it is also a social and stigmatized one.

Disability: physical impairments, mental and learning impairments, sensory impairments, and emotional and psychological impairments.

The New Testament

·      Judeo-Christian tradition prevalent among Europeans.

·      Individuals with disabilities were ostracized and stereotyped.

·      Disabilities thought to be caused by sins.

·      Individuals with disabilities thought to be expressions of God’s displeasure.

·      was caused by sons and gods discretion

·      Started to be stereotyped

·      Middle Ages- believed to arise from demonic and evil

Middle Ages

·      Middle Ages – Disability explained in moral and spiritual terms.

·      Individual with disabilities perceived as out of harmony with God.

·      Disabilities were believed to arise from demonic or evil influences.

·      Individuals with disabilities rejected by society, even burned at the stake.

·      Churches articulated the belief that disabled persons created opportunity for the nondisabled to practice charity.

·       Lepers get segregated.

·      believed to arise from demonic and evil

The Enlightenment

·      New emphasis on rational enquiry competed with traditional religious and spiritual explanations of disability.

·      1600- Francis Bacon refuted the idea that “madness” was moral punishment.

·      Disability from birth considered a monstrosity.

·      Acquired disabilities more acceptable.

·      Individuals injured at war time were given more consideration.

·      In Europe blind persons afforded higher status.

·      Adolphe Quetelet (1796 -1874) was an influential figure.

·      A new overall view of disability.

·      Concepts of the bell curve applied to human beings.

·      The typical became defined as desirable.

·      Deviations from the norm considered undesirable mistakes.

·      Normal became a standard to strive for.

·      Systematic efforts to fix those considered abnormal.

·      Was influence in framing overall view of disability

·      Presenting an average man as the society’s ideal

·      From the norm was undecidable mistakes

·      Born with physical and mental disabilities

·      Normal was the standard and justification to fix people with disabilities

·      Definition of disability-

·      Disability is varying defined- vary from over time and culture

·      Susan Wendall- feminists and lives with a disabilities-

·      Shaped by epistemological and imageries

·      Says that leaving or having a disability a mental and physical condition but a norm

·      Substantially more disabled in certain societies than others

·      Look at disabilities sperate in certain categories- physical impairments, mental and l

·      To know living with similar disabilities are different with men and women

·      Of different races, gender, sexual orientation, etc

·      People with disabilities identify with others and most important aspects of someone

·      Disability- loss of opportunities with others

·      Impairment- caused by physical, mental impairment

Individuals injured during work was given special consideration

·      Resulted prisoner od war was blinded in capture- human alternative

·      Belief of disability in Asia-

·      Viewed them as not human and should be left out to die

·      Roman-

·      Has support systems for them but was still left out to die

·      Someone in power was able to “have” a disability

 

Disabled People’s International (DPI) – Definition of Disability

·      Disability: the loss or limitation of opportunities to take part in the normal life of the community on an equal level with others due to physical and social barriers.

·      Impairment: the functional limitation within the individual caused by physical, mental, or sensory impairment.

The Medical Model of Disability

·      Often called the “find and fix it up” approach

·      The first characteristic of the medical model is that the focus of the problem of disability centers on the individual with the disability.

·      The second characteristic involves the concept of biological dysfunction.

·      The third characteristic is that it centers on methodology. The medical model relies on the intervention of the professional.

·      The fourth characteristic of the medical model concerns with the issue of who is in control.

·      And the fifth and final characteristic relates to decided outcomes.

·      doctors and researchers tend to universalize people with disabilities- trying to fit experiences into a scientific definitions

·      Adding together relevance for each person

·      Identities-

·      Interaction of identities means we will not have an accurate conclusion of what it is to be disabled till we hear from someone with those experiences-

·      Overlap with disability

·      Patricia hill Collins of black feminist thought- expectation of diversity and black feminist though-

·      Assume that all feminist think alike- and how much similarity there is

·      Collins starts with an assumption that experiences affects

·      Call in the find it and fix it up approach

·      Primary in which disability is understood in mainstream society-

·      Problem emerged from medical

·      Unique to western culture

·      Origin stem from enlightenment era from American

·      Medical model primary pridine

·      Understood within mainstream society

·      Argues that disability is a medical issue and emerging form deviant anatomy

·      Unique to western culture

·      Origins from enlightenment era in Europe and America

·      Within this model scientist believed that all human illnesses could be fixed

·      This model evolved with the advanced of modern medicine and the decline in popularity of eugenics

·      Primary mold of understanding in mainstream

·      Concept of biological dysfunction

·      A deviant anatomy- that is not normal

·      Centres on micron ology- only the doctors of fix the problem

·      Concerns with the issue of who is in control

·      Fourth characteristic

·      Who is in control – nurse

·      Medical model- has a few elements of oppression

·      Containment- refers to the practice of limiting the life experiences of people with disabilities in society

·      Interaction of identities means we will not have an accurate conclusion of what it is to be disabled till we hear from someone with that experiences-

·      Overlap with disability

·      Patricia hill Collins of black feminist thought- expectation  of diversity and black feminist though-

·      Assume that all feminist think alike- and how much similarity there is

·      Collins starts with a assumption that experiences affects

·      The medical model-

·      Call in the find it and fix it up approach

·      Primary in which disability is understood in mainstream society-

·      Problem emerged from medical

·      Unique to western culture

·      Origin stem from enlightenment era from American

·      Medical model primary pridine

·      Understood within mainstream society

·      Argues that disability is a medical issue and emerging form deviant anatomy

·      Unique to western culture

·      Origins from enlightenment era in Europe and America

·      Within this model scientist believed that all human illnesses could be fixed

·      This model evolved with the advanced of modern medicine and the decline in popularity of eugenics

·      Primary mold of understanding in mainstream

·      Concept of biological dysfunction

·      A deviant anatomy- that is not normal

·      Centres on micron ology- only the doctors of fix the problem

·      Concerns with the issue of who is in control

·      Fourth characteristic

·      Who is in control – nurse

Elements of Oppression Within the Medical Model of Disability

·      4 elements of oppression

·      Refers to limiting the exposure of people with disabilities

·      Medical model- has a few elements of oppression

·      Containment- refers to the practice of limiting the life experiences of people with disabilities in society

·      According to Mackelprang and Salsgiver:

·      Containment:

·       the first element of oppression

·      practice of limiting the choices,

·      Exposure, and life experiences of disabled persons, etc.

·      May be geographical, psychological, or social.

·      Expendability:

·      When Eugenics took place

·      People with disabilities were concerned their lives would be expendable

·        The second element of oppression.

·       Individuals with disabilities have been considered to be disposable.

·      Eugenicists saw disability as a source of social problems.

·      Individuals with mental illness could not be allowed to reproduce

·      Compartmentalization:

·      Stereotyping people with disabilities and placing them in categories

·      The third element of oppression.

·      It refers to the stereotyping of persons with disabilities; placing them in predetermined categories. 

·      Individuals with disabilities are seen as object of pity, objects of charity, often referred as poor souls.

·      Blaming the Victim: 

·      Blaming the victim approach

·       The fourth element of oppression within the medical model of disability.

·      Provides justification for discrimination (race, gender, age, sexual orientation, disability or other).

·      Some individuals with disability accept the blaming-the-victim mentality.-

·      Because if they accept this approach and deny their pain society can accept them 

Expendability during COVID (look at the link in PP)

·      Individuals with Disabilities were worried their lives will be seen as expendable during pandemic.

·      According to Disability Charity Scope:

·      In London, 63% of individuals with disabilities feared they would not receive the treatment they need if they were hospitalized due to coronavirus.”

·       Tennessee, Washington, Kansas Pennsylvania and New York have issued protocols deprioritizing the treatment of disabled people in the event of scarce medical resources. 

·      “Additionally, Alabama was compelled in April by the Office for Civil Rights to abandon its crisis management policy of “denying ventilator services to individuals based on the presence of intellectual disabilities, including ‘profound mental retardation’ and ‘moderate to severe dementia.”

The Social Model of Disability

·      Focuses on all the inaccessibility for people with disabilities

·      Sees disability as a created concept, meaning that disability is:

·       not inherent in the individual but rather defined by society.

·       This model focuses on the barriers that prevent people with disabilities from participating in common activities.

·       It has been criticized because it often ignores the pain that many individuals living with physical disabilities face.

·      Criticized often because it ignores the pain, medicine, and surgery for improvments of a person with dyabilities

·                           *What are your thoughts about both models?

Intersectionality   

·      Builds on social model accounts.

·      Adds to the conceptualization of disability and other social factors.

Using an Intersectional Lens

·      Sarah and Amal

·      Disability cannot be examined in isolation.

·      Disability intersects with all vectors of identities.

Ableism

·      Ableism: is the belief that individuals with disabilities are inferior.

·      It precipitates devaluation, including exclusion and ostracism, reinforce the attitudes, actions, and policies of those who oppress.

·      Medical and social model

·      Moral Medica-

·      Models – Roots

Ableism: can take many forms including:

·      employment discrimination;

·      housing and other institutional discrimination;

·      lack of accessibility on streets, buildings, and public transportation;

·      stereotyping and ableist language;

·      lack of media portrayals or stereotyped depictions of people with disabilities;

·      bullying; low expectations; isolation and pity.

Lack of accountability

Other

·      An important term/concept

·      A person or group constructed of both a threat to the social group

·      People and groups

·      Become other_ not belong to; a threat to the dominant social group

·      Others to the social norm

·      A person or group who is constructed as both not belong to, and also as a threat to, the dominant social group.  If we tend to see groups as "us" vs "them", the Other is the group who is marginalized in some way, for example racialized groups. People and groups become Other through the process of Othering.

The Gendered Experience of Disability

·      A clear gender divide with disability

·      double discrimination towards women with disabilities

·      perceived as a threat to the masculine image

·      disability replays weakness- men are supposed to masculine men, disability threatens that image

·      women with disability complex stereotypes than women without disabilities

·      confusion about their identity - women

·      For women, the disability stereotype can reinforce the image of dependence.

·      For men, the dependence on others that many disability enforce is perceived as a threat to their masculine image.

·      A study suggests that  people may view men with disabilities less positively than women with disabilities, because disabilities imply weakness and a necessity to rely on others and men are supposed to be strong, powerful and independent. 

The Social Construction of Disability  

·      Assesses and deals with disability from an able-bodied perspective.

·      Using an intersectional lens

·       Includes erroneous assumptions about the capacity to perform that comes from an able-bodied frame of reference.

·       Encompasses the failure to make possible or accept different ways of doing things.

·      Oftentimes  is defined very rigidly.

·      Disability is not merely a result of the impairment but a result of the discriminatory practices, lack of appropriate services, and barriers that prevent individuals with disabilities from fully participating in society. 

·      To learn more about this watch the YouTube video “To imagine Disability Otherwise” by Lisa Ware. Lisa teaches courses in Curriculum, Women's Studies, and an Interdepartmental Writing Seminar titled, Disability in America.

·      Example – Sarah and Amal –

·      Amal who is queer, POC, and a person with disability will face homophobia, racism, sexism, and discrimination because of her disability while Sarah who is white, straight, and a person with disabilities still faces discrimination but has more privilege compared to Amal

Julia Larbour

·      Women with disabilities are more likely to be economically poorer

·      Men have more privileges

Isreal Sharts

·      Social construction of disability

·      As a social construct

·      Include the capacity that comes from an abled body perspective

·      Only makes notes of disabilities

Disabling women and Girls in Austere Times

·      According to Stienstra: feminist analysts

·      Between individuals- women face a divisional barriers

·      Women and men with disabilities both face discrimination, but one; men, have more privilege compared to women

·      Substantial decline in employment since 2008 because of the recession

·      In the global north-

·      When anything happens, like the 2008 recessions- marginalized people are affected the most

·      Women and men with disabilities have been greatly affected by austerity policies during the waves of neoliberal governments in the global North especially in terms of cuts to social services.

·      The feminist analysis helps us understand how the effects of austerity policy changes are gendered.

·      Fitting and misfitting focus on the interactions between individuals, their bodies, and their environments.

·      Women face additional barriers to income support because of gendered impacts, including as care providers, and surveillance by governments of their roles, including as parents (Canada, UK, and Australia)

·      There has been a substantial decline in employment of both women and men with disabilities in Canada since 2008

·      Women with disabilities earn less than women without disabilities and men with disabilities and have additional barriers to their participation in the workforce.

·      There is a lack of the necessary support for people with disabilities to participate and remain in the labor force.

·      People with disabilities continue to have a low rate of applying and being hired to work in the public service.

·      The emergence of neoliberal-ableism.