Intersectionality: A Concept of Liberation or Oppression?

Has intersectionality, as a theoretical concept, reached the point where its deployment reifies and maintains discursive systems that create truth regimes, which serve as forms of regulation? Politics is thought to involve the relationship between social actors and the state. Ignored in such conceptualizations are other interactions and the exercise of power and use of force.  The ever-evolving use of intersectionality in political science research might not be thought of as politics. However, the politics of research speaks to practices, systems of knowledge, and cultural norms that serve to uphold racialized-gendered hierarchies. Consequently, political science research is a form of politics. This paper investigates how the politics of research results in the further marginalization of Black women. The question guiding this analysis is how can the politics of knowledge production influence the material reality of doubly marginalized groups in general and Black women more specifically.

Other scholars address the lack of Black women’s voices in policy formation and show how such omission perpetuates harm to Black women. They critically analyze the relationship between identity and policy responses and contribute to our understanding of intersectionality; however, there remains a gap in our research efforts. I focus on meta-questions and analyses of political science intersectionality research. There is an omission project occurring in published political science research and within intersectionality research. Black women as research subjects are being omitted. This gap remains in our research—it has not focused on how and why Black women are being omitted in social science research and specifically within intersectionality research. I posit that Black women, vis-à-vis the use of intersectionality are being muted. Consequently, their movement for social justice is stymied. As a result, the purpose of intersectionality, as envisioned by Black feminists, becomes subverted and a victim of race/ethnicity, class, gender, and sexuality hierarchies.