Guest Blog Post: Kara Auclair is a volunteer at Safe Passage and the Community Service Fellow for Safe Passage at Smith College.
Intersectionality is one of my favorite words that I have learned as a
student at Smith College. It was coined by Kimberle Crenshaw in 1989
and describes the study of the interactions of multiple systems of
oppression and discrimination in society. I think this word is critical
in understanding the social world of inequality and how best to address
the needs of disenfranchised groups. Intersectionality focuses on the
importance of understanding the unique lived experiences of those who
struggle with multiple levels of oppression. For instance, not all women
experience sexism the same way, and white women and women of color face
different struggles in their experience of domestic violence.
Scholars like Lettie Lockhart discuss the problematic beginnings of
domestic violence research and programs, which focused on the needs of
the “universal woman”.1 The early intervention strategies
and mainstream narratives utilized by early advocates against domestic
violence generally focused on addressing the needs of a single
overarching group of “women”, which really meant white middle class
women. However, as the movement developed, it became clear that domestic
violence is a social reality that intersects with other oppressive
factors like race, sex, class, ethnicity, sexuality, national origin,
ability, etc. There is no “universal woman’s” struggle.
In my training at Safe Passage, we discussed the importance of the
“Umbrella of Oppression” and how certain groups and individuals
experience domestic violence differently because of the unique hardships
and barriers they face as they try to receive help. We know that
certain people are more susceptible to domestic violence because of
their vulnerability, and that there is no one way that people experience
the process of dealing with abuse. It is crucial to understand these
points when addressing the needs of victims and survivors, but also in
prevention work.
Lockhart and her colleagues describe their model of domestic violence
prevention in communities as an “Ecological Approach,” meaning they
take into account all of the contextual factors that might contribute to
violence in a specific community before attempting to connect with that
community through prevention tactics.1 This technique
addresses all of the norms, cultural practices, ideologies, and social
hardships that the community might be dealing with, providing a unique
background for understanding how to create the most effective workshops
and other prevention initiatives. If the intersectionality of different
groups’ oppression is taken into account, then prevention will be more
relevant and effective. If we only consider one “universal” way of
dealing with prevention, it will not speak to everyone in the same way,
and might disenfranchise those who do not have access to this
information for a number of reasons.
One example of this type of prevention can be found in Boston. Men
and women of color have taken this tool laid out by Lockhart into action
by working together in prevention efforts against domestic violence.
About 40 black men took the “Black Man’s Pledge of Responsibility”
which was written by women in this specific community highlighting
changes they wanted their community members to make. The pledge calls
upon men to “reject violence in all its forms as a means of resolving
conflict” and encourage others to do so, and to help provide guidance
and opportunities to young people. This is an example of an “Ecological
Approach” to prevention because the efforts were made by the community
itself, taking into account the unique struggles and issues relevant to
the black men and women in Boston at this point in time. This technique
is likely to be much more effective and beneficial to this community
than a generalized model of prevention strategies not specifically
formatted to this specific context.
Kimberle Crenshaw discussed the importance of intersectionality in
creating a more just world. She noted that when the needs of those who
are most burdened by intersecting oppressions are met, then everyone
will benefit.2 Domestic violence prevention is something
that every community must address, and the collective solidarity
obtained through understanding and compassion can be incredibly useful
in prevention work. Individual experiences shape the way in which
domestic violence affects certain groups and once we bring our
collective strength to this movement towards prevention, we will move
closer to a world free from violence.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
1. Lockhart L, Danis F. Domestic Violence [Electronic Resource] :
Intersectionality And Culturally Competent Practice / Edited By Lettie
L. Lockhart And Fran S. Danis [e-book]. New York : Columbia University
Press, c2010.; 2010.
2. Crenshaw, Kimberle. Mapping the Margins: Intersectionality, Identity
Politics, and Violence against Women of Color. Stanford Law Review, Vol.
43, No. 6 (Jul., 1991), pp. 1241-1299
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