Crenshaw, Kimberle. “Mapping the Margins: Intersectionality, Identity Politics, and Violence against Women of Color.” Stanford Law Review, vol. 43, no. 6, July 1991, pp. 1241–1299.
In this article by Kimberle Crenshaw, she discusses how different organizations fail to accommodate the cause of Black women. Although many women face the intersection of sexism and racism, this is not addressed within the feminist or anti-racist groups. One example that Crenshaw gives is an act passed by Congress meant to help immigrant victims of abuse with American spouses. However, in order to benefit from this, you must have access to this kind of knowledge, and speak English. Therefore, even though it was unintentional, many immigrant women will not have the benefits of this act. Crenshaw points out domestic violence against women in the Black community, and how Black women who speak out against it are seen as diving the community. The Black community is prioritizing the needs of Black men, and Black women are told to support this. Similarly, Black women are not the focus of the feminist movement either. For example, the Violence Against Women Act is sure to specify the problem as affecting “all women”, as a problem that only affected women of color would not be a concern of the government. Having an intersectional viewpoint will allow for people to become sensitive to the particular issues of women of color, and to acknowledge the gaps in their movements.
