Books

Intersectionality, by Patricia Hill Collins and Sirma Bilge

How we define ourselves and others is complex because we hold multiple identities simultaneously. Social contexts and the resulting power relations (racism, sexism, classism, etc.) “are intertwined and mutually constructing.” This book portrays intersectionality as not only an analytic tool used by scholars but also a performative concept—it accomplishes as well as describes. In other words, it is both theory and practice. From the protests around the 2014 FIFA World Cup to “cyberfeminist debates” to hip hop, the authors vividly illustrate how intersectionality shapes people’s lives. The implications for social justice are both daunting and hopeful.