#intersectionalissue

My topic intersects with GWS topics such as gender and gender oppression. The misrepresentation of Muslim Women can relate to how certain genders are represented and misunderstand in our society such as bisexual, gay, lesbian, transgender, and queer individuals. There is a relationship between how Muslim women are represented and treated in the western world along with how racial oppression such as the targeting of African Americans and the mass incarceration along with the lack of diversity that is represented in the media and society. The Black Lives Matter movement is a perfect example of my topic being an intersectional issue. The Black Lives Matter movement is designed to give African Americans a voice and express their concerns because society is shutting them down, my topic is designed to do the same.

From my understanding of the term “intersectional”, I believe that this is an intersectional issue because the transgender population has to face discrimination every day. Another example of this being an intersectional issue is gender. They’re being discriminated against because of their gender identity on a daily basis.

Even though my topic is specific to Mexican American children, there is no age to learn machista ways. The issue I’m trying to bring forward is how we are taught machismo at an early age and we defend it as “that’s how I was raised, I don’t know any other way.” We should change this mentality. Just because one grew up with machista beliefs does not mean one should continue and pass it along to their children.

           Conversion therapy is also intersectional in that it deals with societal issues such as how the government regulates treatments like this but also how societal influences either destroy or allow things like these treatments to continue. There is also the topic of social  justice meaning a part of this analysis of conversion therapy is the movement towards getting justice for people that either have experienced treatments as well as protecting people form experiencing this in the future.

    The race, class, and gender people are from affect the people’s experiences. Since sex education is aimed for students who are heterosexual, those who are not are more discriminated. Within this group of LGBT their economic status and race also takes on a large role on the discrimination they face. Those who are from a lower class face more discrimination than those who are from a higher class. People of color face more oppression than those who are White even if both identify as LGBT. White people always have more privilege than those of color. Transgender women of color are the most oppressed amongst the LGBT community. 

The need for an intersectional approach when looking at art by trans people relates to the article about intersectionality we read in class. The article explains intersectionality and gives real examples of queer identities that are intersectionally oppressed identities, like the Latina lesbian woman that was discussed who has to deal with both racism and sexual orientation discrimination.

Slut shaming is an intersectional issue because not only does it affect gender but it also affects race as well. Generally women of color specifically black women have a harder time and are judged harshly when It comes to sex shaming. Now there was a particular incident where Nicki Minaj was highly criticized about her Anaconda video and she felt that there are other races predominantly white who can do the same and people accept it. For instance, Miley Cyrus was completely naked for part of her wrecking ball video and continues to dress liberally but it’s not judged like those outside of the Caucasian race. Even go back as far as to when black women where sexualized for having voluptuous bodies but now people like Kylie Jenner have gotten surgeries to get the same things but instead become glorified for it.

     The intersections of these identities within the understandings of the various systems of oppression that aid in the formation of contemporary society culminate to and increased risk for systematic and interpersonal violence. They do so in different ways than each identity race, class and gender do separately. The intersections of racism, classism, transphobia and misogyny culminate to create different kinds of experiences and thus different types of and frequencies of oppression.