The term “intersectionality” was coined in 1989 by legal scholar Prof. Kimberlé Crenshaw to theorise the legal void experienced by Black women in the U.S.-American context. Since then, intersectionality has spread beyond U.S. borders, taking root in a wide range of disciplines and geographical contexts. Yet, what intersectionality means, to whom it should be applied and how it should be studied are largely contested questions. In this course, we will examine the meaning, implementation and reach of intersectionality, engaging with current thinking, research and debates. The course will focus particular attention on the policy implications of an intersectional analysis to social inequalities based on gender, race, ethnicity, skin color, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, socio-economic status/background and all other protected grounds against discrimination.
