Women in American Society: Occupation & Racism

The ways that daily activities, community participation, and roles perpetuate systemic racism in the United States.

The historical development of racial hierarchies and the use of race to justify slavery and oppression in the U.S.

The denial of opportunities and resources to Black Americans due to racist policies and practices.

The period following the Civil War when discriminatory laws were put in place to limit the rights and freedoms of Black Americans.

Examples of everyday occupations used as tools for social change and resisting oppressive systems. Examples include bus boycotts and sit-ins.

Contemporary manifestations of systemic racism such as mass incarceration, health disparities, and economic inequality.

The responsibility of occupational scientists and therapists to critically evaluate how their profession contributes to societal inequalities.

The idea that occupations are influenced by power dynamics and contribute to shaping social structures.

A continuous process of building solidarity by centering marginalized voices and addressing the amplified oppression of intersecting identities. It aims to transform organizations and movements into equitable spaces that prioritize the needs of the most vulnerable.

A framework that analyzes how systemic racism and intersecting identities create unique forms of oppression for individuals. It emphasizes the importance of countering dominant narratives to achieve social justice.

The concept that overlapping identities (e.g., race, gender, sexuality) create complex and unique forms of marginalization. This requires a more inclusive approach to organizing and addressing social justice.

A case study highlighting how the 2017 Women's March evolved from a predominantly white leadership to a more inclusive movement that addressed concerns of marginalized groups.

The adoption of the Unity Principles within the Women's March, which focused on intersectional issues faced by women of color, immigrants, and other vulnerable identities, making the movement more inclusive.

A process of acknowledging privilege and oppression, encouraging dialogue and dissent, and actively engaging privileged allies to address divisions caused by building solidarity across different groups.

The potential for occupations to be tools for both oppression and resistance, highlighting the importance of understanding how daily activities contribute to social structures.

Addressing systemic barriers and historical inequities by promoting equity and inclusion through the lens of occupational science.

Conflicts arising within social justice movements when different identities and experiences intersect, creating tensions and disagreements. For example, tensions between white women and women of color or between religious and racial groups.

Building a culture where diverse voices are heard and respected, promoting equal representation and power in leadership and decision-making.

A framework for turning opposition into allyship by understanding different levels of engagement in social justice work.

Traditional labor unions often fail to address intersectional inequalities, focusing primarily on economic class issues.

Applying intersectional organizing principles to address systemic injustices and create a more inclusive and equitable labor movement.

The process of challenging traditional labor structures to redefine justice through the lens of the most marginalized workers.

Embracing intersectionality can lead to stronger solidarity and greater equity within organizations and society.

Kimberlé Crenshaw initially introduced the term as a legal concept, but it has expanded to become a broader framework for analyzing social inequalities.

A legal case involving Black women at General Motors who faced discrimination due to their race and gender, highlighting how institutions often failed to recognize discrimination based on multiple identities.

Intersectionality emphasizes that individuals' experiences are unique based on their combination of identities, like race, gender, and socioeconomic status.

A framework for analyzing how systems of oppression like racism and sexism contribute to social inequalities and affect individuals differently based on their identities.

Applying an intersectional lens to research and policy can lead to more equitable outcomes for everyone. For example, medical research can be improved by considering factors like race and income.

It is important to acknowledge that individuals with different intersectional identities face unique challenges and opportunities due to the overlapping systems of oppression.

The failure to address combined forms of discrimination, such as the case of Black women experiencing both racism and sexism.

This concept emphasizes that people experience unique forms of disadvantage due to the combined effects of multiple marginalized identities, like race, gender, and class.

Critics argue that intersectionality is a political agenda focused on dividing people based on their identity.

Intersectionality aims to expose systemic inequalities that affect individuals based on the combination of their identities.

Intersectionality helps us understand that a Hispanic woman with a physical disability might face unique challenges that neither disability rights nor anti-racism efforts fully address.

This approach encourages empathy, nuance, and engagement with diverse perspectives.