Intersectionality in STEM
Over the past year, there have been lots of discussions about intersectionality. Intersectionality means that we are making sure we consider how social factors such as a person’s race, income, gender, and geographic region combine to form a unique experience that may limit or enhance access to power, privilege, and/or oppression. Intersectionality forces us to look at systems of power and the ways systemic, structural barriers limit access or inclusion to members of particular groups.
With these conversations come considerable misinterpretations of what intersectionality means for the field of computer science and technology. Originally coined by scholar, Kimberlé Crenshaw, few people would argue that the theory of intersectionality is valid. The divide appears in how best to apply it (see for an example).
For CGEST, intersectionality is both a way of thinking (philosophy) and a way of doing (practice) that shapes our work in important ways. CGEST regularly partners and connects with individuals whose rich experiences and life histories may not have included introduction to the term. From undergraduate interns on summer break, to students engaged in their semester-long field work experience, to ASU interns completing a practicum, to staff members with experience in the Peace Corps, to graduate students who collect data in Saipan, and postdoctoral fellows representing varied disciplines (e.g. philosophy of science, educational technology, learning sciences), CGEST's diversity is not exclusively defined by race and ethnicity but to the forms of knowledge and expertise they bring with them. To ensure everyone in the Center understands intersectionality and its use in our context, I drafted an "Intersectionality Manifesto." This was a first for our Center and the first of its kind in the educational spaces our staff come from. More than simply "educating" an already educated collective, we read the manifesto and explored its practicality in each person's role.
For the next few Kim’s Corners, I will present our interpretation of intersectionality. In the next edition I will share the first part of our manifesto. This manifesto will be regularly revisited to make sure it continues to inform our philosophy and practice. It will be our new standard moving forward. We invite you to explore the manifesto, and join us in our commitment to intersectionality.
Executive Director
Center for Gender Equity in Science and Technology
Professor School of Social Transformation
Arizona State University
