Intersectional
or Contextualised Approach to Discrimination
The intersectional
approach realises that discrimination that arises from a combination
of grounds produces a kind of discrimination that is unique
and distinct from any one form of discrimination standing alone.
It takes into account the historical, social and political contexts
and thus recognises the unique experience of women who have
been targets of discrimination on more than one ground. That
is, women who have been discriminated because of their sex and
other grounds such as race, ethnicity, age, disability-status,
citizenship, marital status, religion, sexuality, socio-economic
status, etc.
This approach
allows for particular experiences of discrimination to be acknowledged
and aptly remedied. E.g. (a) racial minority women may experience
more discrimination than racial minority men or non-minority
women; (b) elderly women with disabilities may experience particular
barriers to accessing rights than younger women.
Click here
for IWRAW Asia Pacific materials on intersectional discrimination.
