Topic 2:

The Roots of Intersectionality

Series 1: Start at the beginning

In the second topic of Series 1: Start at the beginning we’re looking at the roots of intersectionality. On our website, we call Grabbing Back a group of intersectional feminists, but that's empty chat unless we know what intersectionality is. The term was coined by Kimberle Crenshaw in 1989, but the concept had deep roots. So this month our podcast and article focus on those deep roots - the context that Crenshaw was writing into.

On this page, you can find this month’s theory article, this month’s podcast (a 3-parter) and some dictionary definitions that will be useful along the way. Check it all out.

Read: theory article

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The Roots of Intersectionality
The Roots of Intersectionality

Listen: podcast episodes

This is a 3-part podcast in which we asked people in our community to reflect on some key pieces of theory that shaped the landscape of feminism before the term ‘intersectionality’ was coined.

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‘Roots of Intersectionality’ Part 3
‘Roots of Intersectionality’ Part 3

In this podcast we look at some of the conceptual roots of ‘intersectionality.’ We hear from some people in the Grabbing Back community reflecting on a poem by Angelina Weld Grimke and a speech by Audre Lorde. This is Part 3 of 3 of this month’s podcast on ‘Roots of Intersectionality.’

‘Roots of Intersectionality’ Part 2
‘Roots of Intersectionality’ Part 2

In this podcast, we look at the roots of ‘intersectionality’ by hearing members of the Grabbing Back community reflect on some theory from bell hooks and Audre Lorde. This is Part 2 of 3 podcasts on the roots of intersectionality.

‘Roots of Intersectionality’ Part 1
‘Roots of Intersectionality’ Part 1

In this podcast, we look at some of the roots of the idea of intersectionality by hearing some people from the Grabbing Back community reflecting on writing from the Combahee River Collective Statement and Angela Davis’ book, ‘Women, Race and Class.’ This is part 1 of 3 podcasts on the ‘Roots of Intersectionality.’

Dictionary Definitions

Overview Timeline

Reached the end and still have questions? There’s buckets of theory you can get stuck into, check out the podcast pages for our references and recommendations. We always love being asked questions too (though no promises we know the answers). Leave us a comment, drop us a DM, or send us an email.