Intersectionality: An Analysis Of Fixed Identities

Intersectionality is one of the main concepts discussed in the reading. This is an important term to know when studying political, economic, and cultural systems present in Western society. Intersectionality is the critical examination of how a myriad of social identities overlap, shape and affect a person living in a neo-colonialist world. These social identities include race, gender, socio-economic status, sexuality, religion, and age. The intersection of social categories explains why certain people benefit from the capitalist-patriarchy and why others experience oppression, discrimination, and domination. Himani Bannerji’s analogy of intersectionality is simple but effective. She writes about colors and how when two or more different colors are mixed together it is difficult to pull them apart/separate them from each other. You are now looking at something far more complex than simple. You cannot understand the life of a black woman, living in a low-income household by just considering her gender. She is all of her identities combined. And with that, she may live a completely different life from a white middle-class woman. …show more content…
“Fixed identities” is a problematic idea because it suggests that we are predictable and static beings. In reality, we are complex social creatures. We are a collection of experiences in need of a holistic analysis to better understand not only our own lives but also the lives of others. By focusing on “fixed identities” we close ourselves off from knowing the true self and instead promote stereotypes and generalizations. I agree with Himani Bannerji when she says that “identity” is about who you are and what you do. My question is if “fixed identities” are a flawed concept, why then are they still prevalent in today’s