What is Intersectional Beauty?
Intersectionality is the the analytical framework for understanding how the cross points of our identities creates privilege and discrimination. It is about consciously breaking down advantage and disadvantage (think factors like gender, ethnicity, class, sexuality, religion or disability). It is the spaces that overlap within the duality of empowerment and oppression. It is more than just a fork in the road, but multiple intersections of influential experiences. This is an expansive lens of unpacking the complexities these intersections of identity.
While the term was coined by Black feminist Kimberlé Williams Crenshaw over 30 years ago to discuss structural, political and representational intersectionality, this language continues to meet the needs of fourth wave social advocacy.
What I find fascinating about the term is that it acknowledges that folks exist within diverse spheres, each layer making an impact in our social outcomes. This is more than just placing one next to the other (think blue sitting beside yellow), but how the blended layers (think blue mixing with yellow) change the way others view and interact with us (think now experiencing green). It is the meeting place of belonging and otherness; whether they judge or accept us.
This is the point that is compelling to me : exploring those intersections within beauty. The vision of Scout has had this at heart from the beginning to not just critique the disparity in representation, but to expand it with inclusive welcome. There is a seat at the table for all folk, but we are especially keen to amplify the experience of those in the intersections of otherness. Grab a seat, listen thoughtfully, speak slowly and love radically.