Demarginalizing the Intersection of Race and Sex: A Black Feminist Critique of Antidiscrimination Doctrine, Feminist Theory and Antiracist Politics
Abstract In this groundbreaking paper, Crenshaw first systematically elaborates the theoretical framework of 'intersectionality,' revealing the structural problems of Black women's marginalization in antidiscrimination law and feminist movements. She analyzes a series of legal cases including DeGraffenreid v. General Motors, pointing out that U.S. antidiscrimination doctrine treats race and sex discrimination as mutually exclusive categories, resulting in Black women - at the intersection of 'Black' and 'woman' identities - being excluded from legal protection precisely because of the intersectional nature of discrimination. Crenshaw critiques the essentialist tendencies in mainstream feminism and antiracist politics, calling for political and legal frameworks that embrace difference and acknowledge the interlocking nature of multiple oppressions.
Kimberlé Williams Crenshaw / Read paper