What is intersectionality, and is it biblical?

Answer

Intersectionality is a term used to describe how different forms of discrimination can interact and overlap with each other. In recent years, it has become a significant concept in feminism. Intersectionality deals with the combined societal effects of systemic discrimination on individuals who belong to multiple disadvantaged groups. For instance, a woman may face oppression from anti-women groups; a black woman may encounter both anti-woman and anti-black bias; a black lesbian woman may experience discrimination based on being a woman, black, and gay, and so on. The essence of intersectionality lies in recognizing that individuals facing only one type of discrimination may struggle to relate to those confronting multiple forms of oppression.

The term “intersectionality” was introduced in a 1989 essay by Kimberlé Crenshaw, a legal scholar who argued that individual anti-discrimination laws are inadequate in addressing the challenges of those experiencing intersecting discriminations. Crenshaw suggests that ongoing political efforts to combat specific forms of discrimination like sexism, racism, and classism will always fall short because they fail to consider the cumulative impact of different types of discrimination. Advocates of the intersectionality concept propose that the solution lies in implementing more progressive social programs.

Although the Bible does not explicitly mention intersectionality, the idea of overlapping discriminations existed in ancient societies, as it does today, with examples found in biblical narratives. For instance, the woman at the well who met Jesus in John 4 faced various forms of discrimination. Firstly, she was a woman, and it was uncommon for rabbis to engage publicly with women. Secondly, she was a Samaritan, and there was deep animosity between Samaritans and Jews, with the latter viewing Samaritans as idolatrous and racially impure. When Jesus requested water from her, she was taken aback. She asked, “How is it that you, being…”A Jew, ask a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?” «Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans. », (John 4:9, ESV). Third, she was a social outcast because of her lifestyle and past. Drawing water from a community well was a form of social interaction for people and usually occurred during the early part of the day. The Samaritan woman came to the well at the sixth hour, or noon «Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour. », (John 4:6), when she knew others would not be present. She was shunned in her town because she was living with a man who was not her husband and had been doing so with other men (John 4:17-18).

The theory of intersectionality, which has become the darling of radical feminists and, more recently, Christian feminists, may have some validity. However, the number of ways we discriminate against one another really isn’t the issue. The issue is the sinfulness of the human heart. All sin separates us from God, and all sin must be atoned for. This is why Jesus died on the cross, to pay the penalty for our sin and to redeem a people unto Himself.

All forms of discrimination and their intersectionality are the result of the fall of man into sin. No doubt discrimination will continue as long as sinful people reside upon the earth. Christians should acknowledge the problem of discrimination and work to counter it, but lasting change can only happen through the life-transforming power of Christ. Movements that seek to divide people along racial, gender, or class lines; that create designer victim groups; or that seek retribution through

Although increasingly authoritarian policies are not genuinely benefiting society, Christians should strive to be peacemakers who bring people together in truth, rather than creating divisions or fueling feelings of resentment.