About us

Intersectionality in current discussions

Intersectionality booms. After the metaphor was imported from the US some years ago it made a great impact on the German research landscape. At present the reception in France is increasing as well. Some have regarded Intersectionality as the long desired change of perspective, that would grasp more specifically the question of agency and its connection with the structures of inequality. Others take Intersectionality for "old wine in new bottles" or even for a "gesture of dominance".     

On closer inspection however it appears that not only various issues are discussed under the concept of Intersectionality but also that the motivation of using this approach is varying. While in Anglo-Saxon and German contexts the debate seems to focus on Subjectivity the French discussion focuses on collectives and epistemological approaches on the formation of concepts. These differences arise from the particular national and cultural context of research and are to be seen against the background of their origin in different scientific disciplines as well as the chosen levels of analysis. In order to go beyond the frame of national scientific culture and to promote the discussion about so called "travelling theories" it is essential to locate and contextualize the different approaches on Intersectionality and to analyze them according to their translations, transformations, or rejections.  

An international and interdisciplinary conference

Last September, 30 young academics gathered in Paris for a conference on "Race, Class, Gender as categories of difference and inequality: Which perspectives arise from the concept of 'intersectionality' for human and cultural sciences?". The conference brought together young academics from different disciplines and cultural provenances to foster international and interdisciplinary cooperation regarding critical reflections on the concept of 'Intersectionality'.

The conference was funded by the Centre interdisciplinaire d'études et de recherches sur l'Allemagne (Ciera), the German research branch of the Ecole des hautes études en sciences sociales in Paris, and the German-French University (DFH/UFA). The conference, held in German, English, and French, was organized by Vera Kallenberg (MPIeR/ EHESS, Ciera), Jennifer Meyer (ENS, Universität Erfurt, Ciera), and Johanna M. Müller (HU Berlin). The lectures and discussions addressed the following issues:

  • Reception and critique of intersectionality
  • Theoretical and methodological approaches
  • Case studies in representation and difference: the specificity of Intersectionality
  • The construction of the normal in history - 'Intersectionality' in historical perspective
  • 'Intersectionality' and manliness
  • The politics of intersectionality
  • Intersectionality in the context of postcolonial studies 

Our goals: a transdisciplinary and transnational platform for a critical conceptualization of 'Intersectionality'

Intersectionality.org acts as a platform for academics who are interested in the concept of 'Intersectionality' and aims to establish a transnational and transdisciplinary network that will enable its participants to share information and circulate knowledge.  

We seek to develop a critical concept of 'Intersectionality' that conceives the constitution of difference and inequality against specific historical constellations and backgrounds and regards that constellation as a result of diachronic and synchronic and often conflicting social, economic, legal, political, and cultural entangled processes of transformation.

But for the purposes of this project there is no need to reinvent the wheel. We rather hope to review recent approaches that deal with difference and inequality, and join them together with other approaches in history, cultural sciences, and humanities.

Finding answers to such "new-old questions" will require:

1.  An invigorated historical perspective within the discussion of Intersectionality and its related research endeavors. To that end, existing approaches in gender history and transnational history (such as global history, entangled history, and histoire croisée) will be harnessed.

2.  A sharper focus and inclusion of the category 'religion' as a norm and social practice.

3.  A more intense and fruitful exchange with approaches derived from postcolonial studies as well as from feminist approaches in law and critical legal studies.  

On intersectionality.org you will find:

  • A list of relevant literature in English, French, and German
  • A list of members (and application forms)
  • "Events to come" concerning forthcoming conferences, seminars and other events
  • "Events" containing relevant information on recent conferences and discussions

 

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