Mapping the Margins: Intersectionality, Identity Politics, and Violence against Women of Color Lesson Plan

When Crenshaw says “identity categories” and “identity politics,” what does she mean? What are the functions of identity categories?

Identity categories describe who people are and how they are situated in the world. Race and gender are examples of identity categories. Students may also name sexuality, nationality, and class as other identity categories. Identity politics describe the modes of behavior people develop around identity categories. For instance, people who commit to antiracism also (most likely) engage in identity politics. They craft their worldviews and behavior around certain ideas of race. Feminists also tend to engage in identity politics with their...