CoChat
Sign Up
Cited by 2,419Feminist Theory and Gender StudiesGender, Health, and Social InequalityGender and Feminist Studies

Intersectionality's Definitional Dilemmas

Open access
Collins, Patricia Hill·2015·Annual Review of Sociology
DOI 10.1146/annurev-soc-073014-112142
Open this paper in CoChat — free accountOpen PDF

Abstract

Defines intersectionality as a knowledge project attentive to power relations and notes that race, class, gender, sexuality, ethnicity, nation, ability, and age are reciprocally constructing phenomena.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1146/annurev-soc-073014-112142

Cites

103 of 103 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Nothing to recompute.

Claims the paper makes

0 of 25 cited sources checked · 0 supported · 0 flagged

  • Findingreasoning

    The growth and institutionalization of intersectionality can be measured by the arrival of undergraduate readers introducing intersectionality to students and the lay public.

    “The growth and institutionalization of intersectionality can also be measured by the arrival of undergraduate readers whose purpose is to introduce intersectionality to students and the lay public.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Premisecitation

    In a postgenomic age, the resurgence of race in science, law, and medicine points to the resiliency of biological understandings of race within contemporary racial projects of science itself, typically without racially discriminatory intent.

    “in a postgenomic age, the resurgence of race in science, law, and medicine points to the resiliency of biological understandings of race within contemporary racial projects of science itself, typically without racially discriminatory intent (Duster 2015).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Duster 2015 source
  • Premisecitation

    African American intellectual production has a history of protesting both social structural racism and cultural representations of people of African descent.

    “African American intellectual production has a storied history of protesting both the social structural dimensions of racism and the cultural representations of people of African descent (Kelley 2002).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Kelley 2002

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Premisecitation

    Contemporary color-blind racism is a differently organized yet equally powerful racial formation that replicates racial hierarchies often without overt attention to race.

    “contemporary color-blind racism constitutes a differently organized yet equally powerful racial formation that manages to replicate racial hierarchies, often without overt attention to race itself”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Bonilla-Silva 2003

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

    • cites Brown et al. 2003

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Interpretationreasoning

    Racial formation theory makes room for multiple interpretive communities.

    “this theory makes room for multiple interpretive communities.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. 75
  • May combine two claims. 14
  • The quote only partly states this claim. 1

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Findingnone given

    Several special editions of journals have been devoted to various aspects of intersectionality as a field of study.

    “Several special editions of journals have also been devoted to various aspects of intersectionality as a field of study.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Findingcitation

    Monographs too numerous to cite use the term intersectionality, as well as combinations of race, class, gender, ethnicity, sexuality, and ability in their titles.

    “Monographs too numerous to cite here use the term intersectionality, as well as various combinations of the terms race, class, gender, ethnicity, sexuality, and ability in their titles”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Findingnone given

    By the early 2000s, heightened interest in intersectionality fostered a blizzard of journal articles, special editions, edited volumes, and undergraduate anthologies.

    “By the early 2000s, heightened interest in intersectionality fostered a blizzard of journal articles, special editions to journals, edited volumes, and undergraduate anthologies.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Findingreasoning

    Intersectionality's increasing acceptance as a field of study within the academy is clearly evident.

    “Intersectionality's increasing acceptance as a field of study within the academy is clearly evident.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Premisecitation

    Racial formation theory conceptualizes race as situated within the recursive relationship between social structures and cultural representations.

    “Because it conceptualizes race as situated within the recursive relationship between social structures and cultural representations, racial formation theory conflates neither discourses about race”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Omi & Winant 2014(1994) source

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    Whereas racial formation theory focuses on racism as a mono-categorical system of power, intersectionality examines social formations of multiple, complex social inequalities.

    “Whereas racial formation theory (ironically, itself a knowledge project) focuses on racism as a mono-categorical system of power, intersectionality examines social formations of multiple, complex social inequalities.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Black feminism as a knowledge project was both situated within the specific context of the United States and connected to broader, global social justice concerns.

    “In this regard, Black feminism as a knowledge project was both situated within the specific context of the United States and connected to broader, global social justice concerns (Collins 2000, pp. 227-50).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Collins 2000, pp. 227-50

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based). May combine two claims.

    Interpretationnone given

    Eugenics arguments fell out of favor in the post-World War II era, suggesting that counterarguments claiming race was socially constructed with no connections to biology had prevailed.

    “Eugenics arguments fell out of favor in the post-World War II era, suggesting that counterarguments claiming that race was socially constructed with no connections to biology had prevailed.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S4 (based).

    Interpretationnone given

    Intersectionality as a field of study is situated within the power relations it studies.

    “(a) intersectionality as a field of study that is situated within the power relations that it studies”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S4 (based).

    Interpretationnone given

    The broader knowledge project provides a set of ideas that provide moments of definitional consensus.

    “The broader knowledge project provides a set of ideas that provide moments of definitional consensus.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    Within racial formation theory, ideas matter as tangible, multiple knowledge projects advanced by specific interpretive communities, not simply as hegemonic ideologies produced by elites.

    “Within racial formation theory, ideas matter, not simply as hegemonic ideologies produced by elites but also as tangible, multiple knowledge projects that are advanced by specific interpretive communities.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Omi & Winant 2014(1994) source

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisereasoning

    Racial formation theory conflates neither discourses about race nor the power relations in which racial meanings are situated.

    “racial formation theory conflates neither discourses about race (e.g., racial meanings, representations, and social identities) nor the power relations in which racial meanings are situated.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Omi & Winant 2014(1994) source

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S4 (based).

    Interpretationnone given

    Intersectionality as an analytical strategy provides new angles of vision on social phenomena.

    “(b) intersectionality as an analytical strategy that provides new angles of vision on social phenomena”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S4 (based).

    Interpretationnone given

    Within intersectionality, it can be profitably conceptualized as a constellation of knowledge projects that change in relation to one another in tandem with changes in the interpretive communities that advance them.

    “within this overarching umbrella, intersectionality can also be profitably conceptualized as a constellation of knowledge projects that change in relation to one another in tandem with changes in the interpretive communities that advance them.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S4 (based).

    Interpretationnone given

    Intersectionality can be conceptualized as an overarching knowledge project whose changing contours grow from and respond to social formations of complex social inequalities.

    “Intersectionality can be conceptualized as an overarching knowledge project whose changing contours grow from and respond to social formations of complex social inequalities”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S4 (based).

    Interpretationnone given

    Intersectionality is a knowledge project whose raison d'être lies in its attentiveness to power relations and social inequalities.

    “I analyze intersectionality as a knowledge project whose raison d'être lies in its attentiveness to power relations and social inequalities.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
    • Rests on an assumption: Race, class, gender, sexuality, ethnicity, nation, ability, and age operate not as unitary, mutually exclusive entities, but as reciprocally constructing phenomena that shape complex social inequalities.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S3 (load-bearing).

    Interpretationreasoning

    Because groups aim to have their interpretations of racial inequality prevail, knowledge lies at the heart of racial projects.

    “Because groups aim to have their interpretations of racial inequality prevail, knowledge lies at the heart of racial projects.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S4 (based).

    Interpretationnone given

    Overarching intersectional frameworks have been successful because they remain broad and unspecified.

    “Overarching intersectional frameworks have been so successful because they remain broad and unspecified.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based).

    Premisenone given

    Eugenics projects that advanced widely accepted scientific knowledge about race had significant impact on public policies of the United States, Germany, and many nation-states.

    “the eugenics projects that advanced widely accepted scientific knowledge about race had significant impact on the public policies of the United States, Germany, and many nation-states.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S4 (based).

    Interpretationnone given

    The strength of racial formation theory lies in how it links specific knowledge projects (racial projects) with historically constructed power relations (racial formations).

    “The strength of racial formation theory lies in how it links specific knowledge projects (racial projects) with historically constructed power relations (racial formations).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    The construct of community provides an important framework for understanding the interpretive communities that advance intersectionality's many knowledge projects.

    “Linking power with knowledge, the construct of community provides an important framework for understanding the interpretive communities that advance intersectionality's many knowledge projects.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Collins 2010

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S4 (based).

    Interpretationnone given

    Knowledge projects are grounded in specific sociological processes experienced by actual people.

    “Knowledge projects are not free-floating phenomena; they are grounded in specific sociological processes experienced by actual people.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Interpretationreasoning

    Because understanding racial inequality remains central to racial formation theory, it provides intellectual and political space for subordinated social groups such as African Americans, Latinos, Asians, and indigenous peoples.

    “Because understanding racial inequality remains central to racial formation theory, it provides intellectual and political space for subordinated social groups such as African Americans, Latinos, Asians, and indigenous peoples.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S4 (based).

    Interpretationnone given

    Intersectionality as critical praxis informs social justice projects.

    “(c) intersectionality as critical praxis that informs social justice projects”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable).

    Premisecitation

    Knowledge, including knowledge aimed at better understanding intersectionality, is socially constructed and transmitted, legitimated, and reproduced.

    “A sociology of knowledge framework suggests that knowledge-including knowledge aimed at better understanding intersectionality-is socially constructed and transmitted, legitimated, and reproduced.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Balibar 2007

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

    • cites Berger & Luckmann 1966

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

    • cites Foucault 1980

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based).

    Interpretationnone given

    Intersectional knowledge projects typically focus on three interdependent concerns: intersectionality as a field of study, as an analytical strategy, and as critical praxis.

    “intersectional knowledge projects typically focus on three interdependent concerns.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Interpretationnone given

    The third focal point emphasizes intersectionality as a form of critical praxis, especially its connections with social justice.

    “The third focal point emphasizes intersectionality as a form of critical praxis, especially its connections with social justice.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisenone given

    The richness of African American knowledge projects rarely makes it into the legitimated canon of established fields.

    “Yet despite these efforts, the richness of these knowledge projects rarely make it into the legitimated canon of established fields.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable).

    Interpretationreasoning

    Overarching intersectional frameworks provide the illusion that the constellation of smaller knowledge projects can be uncritically categorized under intersectionality's big tent umbrella.

    “They provide the illusion that the constellation of smaller knowledge projects can be uncritically categorized under intersectionality's big tent umbrella.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable).

    Interpretationreasoning

    Intersectionality goes farther than mono-system analysis by introducing a greater level of complexity into conceptualizing inequality.

    “Yet intersectionality goes farther than this mono-system analysis, introducing a greater level of complexity into conceptualizing inequality.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    Racial formations have distinctive configurations of racial projects for which interest groups advance various interpretations of racial inequality.

    “Racial formations have distinctive configurations of racial projects for which interest groups advance various interpretations of racial inequality.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Omi & Winant 2014(1994) source

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Interpretationnone given

    The first focal point makes intersectionality as a field of study the object of investigation.

    “The first focal point makes intersectionality as a field of study the object of investigation.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable).

    Interpretationreasoning

    Intersectionality can build on racial formation theory by moving beyond a mono-categorical focus on racial inequality to encompass multiple forms of inequality organized via a similar logic.

    “Intersectionality can build on this foundation by moving beyond a mono-categorical focus on racial inequality to encompass multiple forms of inequality that are organized via a similar logic.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based).

    Interpretationreasoning

    The sets of practitioners that lay claim to intersectionality via multiple cross-cutting and competitive intersectional knowledge projects reveal a lack of consensus about intersectionality's history, current organization, and future directions.

    “Yet the sets of practitioners that lay claim to intersectionality via multiple cross-cutting and competitive intersectional knowledge projects reveal a lack of consensus about intersectionality's history, current organization, and future directions.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Premisecitation

    Historically constructed, ever-changing racial formations organize racialized groups, patterns of racial inequality, and social problems.

    “Historically constructed, ever-changing racial formations organize racialized groups, the specific patterns of racial inequality that link racialized populations, and social problems that ensue.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Omi & Winant 2014(1994) source

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based). May combine two claims.

    Interpretationnone given

    Racial formations change in response to racial projects, and racial projects change in relation to changing racial formations.

    “Just as racial formations change in response to racial projects, racial projects change in relation to changing racial formations.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable). May combine two claims.

    Interpretationnone given

    Intersectionality faces a definitional dilemma because it participates in the power relations it examines and must attend to the conditions that make its knowledge claims comprehensible.

    “Intersectionality faces a particular definitional dilemma-it participates in the very power relations that it examines and, as a result, must pay special attention to the conditions that make its knowledge claims comprehensible.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Interpretationreasoning

    Intersectionality's definitional dilemma occurs in the intellectual and political space of competing knowledge projects.

    “Intersectionality's definitional dilemma occurs in this intellectual and political space.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S4 (based).

    Interpretationnone given

    There is a need for better assessments of pain, suffering, and injury in human rights claims.

    “Second, there is the need for better assessments of pain, suffering, and injury.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based). May combine two claims.

    Interpretationnone given

    In scholarly settings, the critical dimensions of Davis's work open her up to accusations of bias; her analyses can read as too polemical and therefore unscholarly.

    “In scholarly settings, the critical dimensions of Davis's work open her up to accusations of bias-her analyses of capitalism, neoliberalism, racism, and prisons can read as too polemical and therefore unscholarly.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S4 (based). May combine two claims.

    Interpretationnone given

    Intersectionality is not simply a field of study to be mastered or an analytical strategy for understanding; rather, intersectionality as critical praxis sheds light on the doing of social justice work.

    “Intersectionality is not simply a field of study to be mastered or an analytical strategy for understanding; rather, intersectionality as critical praxis sheds light on the doing of social justice work.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable).

    Interpretationnone given

    Critical scholarship linked to critical practice such as Walia's is part of a broader intersectional knowledge project that increasingly transcends the traditional boundaries of academic projects.

    “Yet critical scholarship linked to critical practice such as this is also part of a broader intersectional knowledge project that increasingly transcends the traditional boundaries of academic projects.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Interpretationnone given

    For scholar-activists, intersectionality as a form of critical praxis made sense for their social justice projects aimed at remedying complex social inequalities.

    “For these scholar-activists, intersectionality as a form of critical praxis made sense for their social justice projects aimed at remedying complex social inequalities.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based).

    Interpretationnone given

    The underemphasis on intersectionality as critical praxis within academia most likely reflects efforts to avoid the implicit political implications of intersectionality itself.

    “In addition, the underemphasis on intersectionality as critical praxis within academia most likely reflects efforts to avoid the implicit political implications of intersectionality itself.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S4 (based).

    Interpretationreasoning

    Scholars may know less about intersectionality as critical praxis simply because they fail to look for it.

    “Scholars may know less about intersectionality as critical praxis simply because they fail to look for it.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable). May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    Because protected categories gain meaning only in relation to one another, actualizing human rights means transcending the limitations of a strictly legal statement of human rights.

    “Yet because the protected categories gain meaning only in relation to one another, actualizing human rights means transcending the limitations of a strictly legal statement of human rights.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
    • Rests on an assumption: The protected categories in human rights gain meaning only in relation to one another.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable).

    Interpretationreasoning

    Holding fast to the creativity of intersectionality as a dynamic area of inquiry and practice yet finding a common language useful to its practitioners is the cutting-edge definitional dilemma for intersectionality.

    “Holding fast to the creativity of this dynamic area of inquiry and practice yet finding a common language that will be useful to its practitioners is the cutting-edge definitional dilemma for intersectionality.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S3 (load-bearing).

    Interpretationreasoning

    In activist venues searching for a critical analysis of social inequality, Davis's same ideas remain well-received, precisely because her work remains critical.

    “In contrast, in activist venues searching for a critical analysis of social inequality, these same ideas remain wellreceived, precisely because her work remains critical.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S4 (based).

    Interpretationreasoning

    Human rights requires more effective tools for identifying the kinds of distinctions that constitute discrimination.

    “First, human rights requires more effective tools for identifying the kinds of distinctions that constitute discrimination.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Interpretationnone given

    Activist and scholarly circles can interpret Angela Davis's intellectual production differently based on their respective agendas.

    “Yet on the basis of their respective agendas, activist and scholarly circles can interpret Davis's intellectual production differently.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisenone given

    Women's studies assumed an important leadership role by enabling gender scholars who were spread across various disciplines to gather, compare, and contrast the study of women within their distinctive disciplines, and then migrate back into those very same disciplines with this new knowledge.

    “Women's studies assumed an important leadership role by enabling gender scholars who were spread across various disciplines to gather, compare, and contrast the study of women within their distinctive disciplines, and then migrate back into those very same disciplines with this new knowledge.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based).

    Interpretationnone given

    Davis's stature as a public intellectual has provided a platform for her ideas, making it difficult if not impossible to exclude them from academic venues.

    “Davis's stature as a public intellectual has provided a platform for her ideas, making it difficult if not impossible to exclude them from academic venues.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisenone given

    Harsha Walia's (2013) analysis of border imperialism is written for, not about, activists.

    “For example, Canadian activist Harsha Walia's (2013) analysis of border imperialism is written for, not about, activists.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Walia 2013

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based).

    Premisenone given

    Intersectionality as a field of study has catalyzed a copious outpouring of new knowledge, much of it produced by researchers, faculty members, and students who use intersectionality as an analytical strategy.

    “Despite intersectionality's ongoing definitional ambiguities, intersectionality as a field of study has catalyzed a copious outpouring of new knowledge, much of it produced by researchers, faculty members, and students who use intersectionality as an analytical strategy.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based).

    Interpretationnone given

    The underemphasis on intersectionality as critical praxis may be due in part because these areas valorize studying or writing about intersectionality over practicing it.

    “This underemphasis may be due in part because these areas valorize studying or writing about intersectionality over practicing it.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Interpretationcitation

    The mission statements from the IBPA illustrate the aspirations of social actors who wish to bring intersectionality into public policy areas.

    “The mission statements from the IBPA illustrate the aspirations of social actors who wish to bring intersectionality into public policy areas:”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S4 (based).

    Interpretationreasoning

    This rhetorical strategy of mentioning one African American woman as intersectionality's foremother fosters a collective ritual that legitimates this particular origin story.

    “This rhetorical strategy of mentioning one African American woman as intersectionality's foremother fosters a collective ritual that legitimates this particular origin story.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S3 (load-bearing).

    Interpretationcitation

    The ideas expressed in the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights bear a strong family resemblance to strands of intersectionality that are aligned with social justice initiatives.

    “The ideas expressed in the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights bear a strong family resemblance to strands of intersectionality that are aligned with social justice initiatives.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S4 (based).

    Premisenone given

    Despite the intellectual richness of Crenshaw's work, contemporary narratives of the emergence of intersectionality rarely situate her work within the crucial historical juncture linking knowledge projects from social movements advanced by women of color with the institutionalization of race/class/gender studies.

    “Despite the intellectual richness of Crenshaw's work, contemporary narratives of the emergence of intersectionality rarely situate her work within this crucial historical juncture linking knowledge projects from social movements advanced by women of color with the institutionalization of race/class/gender studies.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Carbado (2013) points out that scholars across the globe regularly invoke and draw upon intersectionality, as do human rights activists, community organizers, political figures and lawyers, and that any theory traversing such transdemographic terrains is bound to generate controversy and contestation.

    “As Carbado (2013) points out,”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Carbado 2013 source

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable).

    Interpretationreasoning

    Intersectionality as a knowledge project faces the fundamental challenge of sustaining its critical edge.

    “In this context, intersectionality as a knowledge project faces the fundamental challenge of sustaining its critical edge.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based).

    Interpretationreasoning

    Practitioners are often frontline actors for solving social problems linked to complex social inequalities, a social location that predisposes them to respond to intersectionality as critical praxis.

    “Practitioners are often frontline actors for solving social problems that are clearly linked to complex social inequalities, a social location that predisposes them to respond to intersectionality as critical praxis.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
    • Rests on an assumption: Teachers, social workers, parents, policy advocates, university support staff, community organizers, clergy, lawyers, graduate students, and nurses often have an up close and personal relationship to violence, homelessness, hunger, illiteracy, poverty, sexual assault, and similar phenomena.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    Simon Fraser University's Intersectionality-Based Policy Analysis (IBPA) initiative aims to generate research with direct applicability to Canadian health policy.

    “For example, Simon Fraser University's Intersectionality-Based Policy Analysis (IBPA) initiative, housed at the Institute for Intersectionality Research and Policy, aims to generate research with direct applicability to Canadian health policy.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Hankivsky 2012

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based).

    Premisenone given

    Intersectionality as a knowledge project remained unnamed as such during the 1980s, the major decade when its ideas but not its name were incorporated into the US academy.

    “Intersectionality as a knowledge project remained unnamed as such during the 1980s, the major decade when its ideas but not its name were incorporated into the US academy.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    Angela Davis's career speaks to a sustained engagement with intersectionality as critical praxis.

    “For example, from her pathbreaking work on women, race, and class to her sustained attention to prison abolition, the storied career of Angela Davis (1981Davis ( , 2012) ) speaks to a sustained engagement with intersectionality as critical praxis.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Davis 1981

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

    • cites Davis 2012

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S4 (based).

    Interpretationnone given

    The value of critical praxis reflects the norms of any given interpretive community.

    “The value of critical praxis reflects the norms of any given interpretive community.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based).

    Interpretationnone given

    The connection between social justice and remedying complex social inequalities seems more prominent outside academic settings than within them.

    “This connection between social justice and remedying complex social inequalities seems more prominent outside academic settings than within them.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable). May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    Increasingly, intersectionality's ideas can travel across diverse interpretive communities, a shift that has important implications for intersectionality as critical praxis.

    “Increasingly, intersectionality's ideas can travel across diverse interpretive communities, a shift that has important implications for intersectionality as critical praxis.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims. The quote only partly states this claim.

    Interpretationreasoning

    Intersectionality potentially helps address three main concerns in human rights: identifying distinctions that constitute discrimination, assessing pain/suffering/injury, and finding appropriate reparations and remedies.

    “Intersectionality potentially helps address three main concerns.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S4 (based). May combine two claims.

    Interpretationnone given

    Walia's book is unlikely to be selected for ASA sessions on 'Intersectionality' or to appear as assigned reading on course syllabi.

    “Her book is unlikely to be selected for ASA sessions on”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based).

    Interpretationnone given

    The third concern is the search for appropriate reparations and remedies to victims of human rights abuses.

    “The third concern is the search for appropriate reparations and remedies to victims of human rights abuses.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S4 (based).

    Interpretationnone given

    Practitioners drawn to intersectionality as critical praxis seek knowledge projects that take a stand, critiquing social injustices, imagining alternatives, and/or proposing viable action strategies for change.

    “Practitioners who would be drawn to intersectionality as critical praxis seek knowledge projects that take a stand; such projects would critique social injustices that characterize complex social inequalities, imagine alternatives, and/or propose viable action strategies for change.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S4 (based).

    Interpretationreasoning

    Despite its ubiquity, intersectionality as critical praxis remains underemphasized within intersectionality as a field of study and within scholarship that draws on intersectionality as an analytical strategy.

    “Despite its ubiquity, intersectionality as critical praxis remains underemphasized within intersectionality as a field of study and within scholarship that draws on intersectionality as an analytical strategy.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable).

    Interpretationreasoning

    The challenge for public health lies in integrating intersectional frameworks into both health care delivery practices and public policies.

    “Because public health remains connected to the practices of health care professionals, the challenge for this field lies in integrating intersectional frameworks into both health care delivery practices and public policies.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
    • Rests on an assumption: Public health remains connected to the practices of health care professionals.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S3 (load-bearing).

    Interpretationnone given

    Groups composed of society's overlooked populations have a vested interest in drawing upon intersectional frameworks to address social inequalities.

    “Yet groups such as these have a vested interest in drawing upon intersectional frameworks to address social inequalities.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
    • Rests on an assumption: Local, grassroots, small-scale, and/or temporary groups that draw upon intersectionality to guide their critical praxis are typically composed of society's overlooked populations: the young, women, people of color, and poor people.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based).

    Interpretationnone given

    Despite the visibility of scholars as the public face of intersectionality, practitioners such as hip-hop poets, Afro-Brazilian feminists, IBPA scholar-activists, and intellectual activists such as Angela Davis and Harsha Walia may be equally if not more likely to put forth innovative, cutting-edge intersectional analyses that will advance the field.

    “Despite the visibility of scholars as the public face of intersectionality, practitioners such as hip-hop poets, Afro-Brazilian feminists, IBPA scholar-activists, and intellectual activists such as Angela Davis and Harsha Walia may be equally if not more likely to put forth the innovative, cutting-edge intersectional analyses that will advance the field.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based).

    Interpretationnone given

    The changing political economy of publishing and social media provides new venues for circulating intersectional analyses both outside and inside academia.

    “The changing political economy of publishing and social media provides new venues for circulating intersectional analyses both outside and inside academia.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    The emphasis on interlocking oppressions contained an explicit analysis of the interconnectedness of race, class, gender, and sexuality as systems of power and constituted one defining moment for the emergence of race/class/gender studies and its subsequent renaming as intersectionality.

    “It not only contained an explicit analysis of the interconnectedness of race, class, gender, and sexuality as systems of power, but also constituted one defining moment for the emergence of race/class/gender studies and its subsequent renaming as intersectionality (Collins 2000).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Collins 2000

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

78 of 78

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Race, class, gender, sexuality, ethnicity, nation, ability, and age operate not as unitary, mutually exclusive entities, but as reciprocally constructing phenomena that shape complex social inequalities.

    “The term intersectionality references the critical insight that race, class, gender, sexuality, ethnicity, nation, ability, and age operate not as unitary, mutually exclusive entities, but as reciprocally constructing phenomena that in turn shape complex social inequalities.”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    A general consensus exists about intersectionality's general contours.

    “By now, a general consensus exists about intersectionality's general contours.”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Teachers, social workers, parents, policy advocates, university support staff, community organizers, clergy, lawyers, graduate students, and nurses often have an up close and personal relationship to violence, homelessness, hunger, illiteracy, poverty, sexual assault, and similar phenomena.

    “Teachers, social workers, parents, policy advocates, university support staff, community organizers, clergy, lawyers, graduate students, and nurses often have an up close and personal relationship to violence, homelessness, hunger, illiteracy, poverty, sexual assault, and similar phenomena.”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Local, grassroots, small-scale, and/or temporary groups that draw upon intersectionality to guide their critical praxis are typically composed of society's overlooked populations: the young, women, people of color, and poor people.

    “Typically, these groups are composed of society's overlooked populations, specifically the young, women, people of color, and poor people.”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Public health remains connected to the practices of health care professionals.

    “Because public health remains connected to the practices of health care professionals, the challenge for this field lies in integrating intersectional frameworks into both health care delivery practices and public policies.”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The protected categories in human rights gain meaning only in relation to one another.

    “Yet because the protected categories gain meaning only in relation to one another, actualizing human rights means transcending the limitations of a strictly legal statement of human rights.”
6 of 6

Claims other papers make about this one

Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?

  • Intersectionality theory suggests that people experience multiple forms of stigma in interlocking systems and structures of oppressive power.

    “Intersectionality theory suggests that people experience multiple forms of stigma in interlocking systems and structures of oppressive power.9”

    From An acceptance-based, intersectional stigma coping intervention for people with HIV who inject drugs—a randomized clinical trial (2023) · cites this paper as [9]

    The Introduction and Epistemological Challenges sections describe mutually constructing social categories, intersecting systems of power, and the distinctive experiences of people living within them. The Case of US Black Feminism also discusses interlocking oppressions. These passages support the claim’s account of interlocking oppressive structures, but they do not specifically establish that people experience multiple forms of stigma. (LLM, conf=0.82)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

Self-check

Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.

Each contradiction between two passages listed here was confirmed by an independent check.

  • Conflicting years for The Bluest Eye

    Minor

    The discussion associates Morrison's The Bluest Eye with 1971, while the reference list gives 1970. The citation in the discussion is garbled, but the two years do not match.

1 of 1

Cites

Flagged first, then by citations

Research works printed but not linked: 15

  1. Acker J, 1999, Revisioning Gender, 44
  2. Balibar E, 2007, The Philosophy of Marx
  3. Davis AY, 2012, The Meaning of Freedom and Other Difficult Dialogues
  4. Dill BT. 2009. Intersections, identities, and inequalities in higher education. See Dill & Zambrana 2009, pp. 229–52
  5. Dotson K, 2013, Soc. Epistemol., 14, 1
  6. Freeman M, 2011, Human Rights
  7. Goldberg SB, 2009, Intersectionality and Beyond: Law, Power and the Politics of Location, 124
  8. Grossberg L, 1996, Critical Dialogues in Cultural Studies, 131
  9. Guidroz K, 2009, The Intersectional Approach: Transforming the Academy Through Race, Class and Gender, 61
  10. Hankivsky O, 2012, An Intersectionality-Based Policy Analysis Framework
  11. Morrison T, 1970, The Bluest Eye
  12. Morrison T, 1987, Beloved
  13. Parker J, Samantrai R. 2010. Interdisciplinarity and social justice: an introduction. See Parker et al. 2010, pp. 1–33
  14. Peterson VS, 2007, Race Gender Class, 14, 10
  15. Wells-Barnett IB, 2002, On Lynchings

Cited by

Sorted by citations

Related

Authors
Collins, P. H.
Affiliations
Department of Sociology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742-1315;
Venue
Annual Review of Sociology
Publisher
Annual Reviews
Published
2015-08-14
Volume
41
Issue
1
Pages
1-20
ISSN
  • 0360-0572 (ISSN-L)
  • 1545-2115
DOI
10.1146/annurev-soc-073014-112142
OpenAlex
W2148974647
Semantic Scholar
48116d925a63de9e9dd793450a6ed59d51767d35
Cited by
2,419
References
101
Citations by year
2026: 254 · 2025: 320 · 2024: 325 · 2023: 295 · 2022: 287 · 2021: 240 · 2020: 211 · 2019: 220 · 2018: 130 · 2017: 85 · 2016: 38 · 2015: 9 · 2014: 1 · 2012: 1
FWCI
28.85
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
Annual Review of Sociology (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Gender Studies › Feminist Theory and Gender Studies
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Gender, Health, and Social Inequality
  • Social Sciences › Gender Studies › Gender and Feminist Studies
Keywords
intersectionality, power relations, social inequality, race, class, gender, sexuality, ethnicity, nation, disability, age, critical praxis, social justice, knowledge production

About these checks

Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.

Claims read by deepseek-v4.1-flash under definition version 3 (extract-v3) on 2026-10-11.

Classified by jev-1.13-20260917 (gold-guideline-v0.2) on 2026-10-11.

Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.

Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.

What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›

Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review