Intersectionality
Intersectionality is rooted in the North American Feminist Movement, specifically in the Black Feminist Movement of the 1990’s. Though initially devised as a tool for female situational analysis, Intersectionality can be applied across the gender spectrum.
The project, Moments of Freedom, was named during this process as a space and time where the women create moments be themselves and be free from some of the challenges of everyday life. We have been vey lucky to continue these conversations throughout the project, gaining a greater understanding at each stage of the [positive and negative] impact that a combination of these multiple identities have on the women in their capacity to not only be a part of, but also to shape their community on an equal basis. Using intersectionality in this way has created a safe space for us to work in sincere collaboration with the women to develop their project based on their experiences.
Language is one of the main intersections the women view as a barrier to their participation. By using intersectional analysis with the women we have been able to identify the ways in which language plays a role in their ability to participate using their own expertise and knowledge. This extends not only to their ability to have conversations in English but the language used about them - is it focused on deficit or does it give space for exploring their aspirations as New Scot women? Collectively we are then able to consider potential solutions to these barriers by taking practical steps, such as developing associations that will support alternative routes into employment or enterprise and working with local care homes to practise conversational English.
More information about intersectionality:
As a means of reflection and to move us forward to the next phase of work, we used intersectionality as a tool for evaluation to plot how the women want to shape their new project based on the learning from the pilot. Intersectionality encourages people to consider their identity in different settings and how power imbalances in their lives can affect their ability to achieve goals and aspirations. We carried out an evaluation to enable the group to plot where they want to be [both at a community level and in shaping a new project] whilst reflecting on the intersections that may impede or encourage their ability to ‘get there’. This helped to reinforce the peer support the group already give to each other as well as opening up potential spaces for where new networks of peer support may exist within the wider community. The women identified these particular spaces as ‘Moments of Freedom’ - a place to enjoy new experiences and situations.
Each circle lists the things the women view as fundamental in their journeys to reaching where they want to be and ultimately what they’d like for their families. With their identities at the core, each circle layers the next representing how personal growth in a safe place leads to empowerment.
The arrows moving into the circles are intersections that the women experience as having significant impact on their ability to reach their goals. Although, in plotting their journey in this way it became very clear that they have managed to survive in the face of extreme adversity - how the women dealt with these experiences were the very things that were to get their families to a place of safety.
The arrows moving out were the intersections they felt really helped them move forward. The women are now in a place they feel they can look to the future - ‘where we are now is what matters most’ in reaching their destinations, finding ‘moments of freedom’ for their families to be happy in a new place and time.