Video: Intersectionality and differential outcomes

With Dr. Leonard Edwards (Assistant Manager, CAMH Office of Health Equity)

Intersectionality is a framework that allows us to understand how aspects of a person's social and political identity such as their race, their gender, their sexual orientation; how these create different modes of discrimination or privilege.How then do we become more intersectional allies? One, it would be important for us to check our privilege. All of our social identities play into privilege whether we ask for it or not: our education or sexual orientation or abilities. It would be important then that we reflect on these and to consider how they may play into the discrimination we don't experience and the discrimination we engage within. The second point in becoming a more intersectional ally is this notion of listening and learning. At the very core of intersectionality is this idea of collaboration. It would be important then that we engage in meaningful and respectful collaboration with diverse and racialized communities: hearing and honouring all of their experiences, equally remembering that it is not entirely up to these diverse and racialized communities to teach us about their experiences. The third point is around making space. Who is at the centre of this conversation? Whose voices are we honouring? Is it reasonable that we respond in this moment? Recognizing that it would be important that we do not speak for or on the behalf of racialized and diverse communities. Finally, we would need to watch our language. Is the way we are describing people's experiences exclusionary and down right offensive? We should be willing to accept criticism and to recognize our shortcomings,remembering that this work is not about perfection but that it is about progression. As you seek to become a much more intersectional ally, you would be improving on the experiences of those among us who are most vulnerable.