A place where two or more roads, lines, or things cross each other; or the point where different ideas or groups meet.
From Latin *intersecare* “to cut between,” from *inter-* “between” and *secare* “to cut.” It came into English through French mathematics and geometry.
In math, an intersection is what different sets share; in life, it’s where identities and experiences overlap. Standing at an intersection—of roads or ideas—means you have multiple possible paths at once.
In social theory, 'intersection' is central to intersectionality, a framework developed by Black feminists such as Kimberlé Crenshaw to describe overlapping systems of oppression, including gender, race, and class. The term has been widely adopted but sometimes stripped of its feminist, anti-racist origins.
When using 'intersection' in social contexts, acknowledge intersectional perspectives that include gender, race, and other axes of inequality rather than treating gender in isolation.
Black feminist scholars and activists pioneered intersectional analysis, highlighting how women of color experience gender oppression differently and shaping contemporary understandings of equity and justice.
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