Women's experiences are not a monolith

WOMEN’S EXPERIENCES ARE NOT A MONOLITH

INTERSECTIONALITY’S ROLE IN HOW WOMEN ARE TREATED

BY PHYKE SORIANO

The idea that women have a uniform experience is false and misguided. It’s spread by a society that views women’s lives through a narrow lens of perceived inferiority and delicate femininity. In reality, being a woman is a collection of diverse experiences, a multifaceted tapestry that cannot be confined to a single definition or label. Women hail from different countries, cultures, and ethnicities, each thread contributing to the unique fabric of their lives. They face unique challenges and discrimination, shaped by their sexuality, age, faith and more.

Mainstream media perpetuates this myth of a monolithic experience, limiting representation to a few stereotypical roles and reinforcing the notion of a singular circumstance. The media that we consume, like movies and TV shows, play an important part in forming our perceptions of others. Popular culture, for most people, is the primary way we learn about those who are different from us. Diversity and representation of any kind is something that should be celebrated whether it is about race, gender, religion or sexual orientation, but we’ve all probably seen how women are portrayed on these platforms. This takes the shape of characters that fit under tropes that generalize what makes a woman and how they live their lives. It makes its way into popular culture today in the movie, “Don’t Worry Darling.” Even though this film centers around a fake reality, it still highlights a man’s strong desire for women to be trophy wives, doing as their partner pleases and not having a thought of their own - a trope that is overplayed. The reality is women’s experiences are vast and varied, and their stories deserve to be told in all their multifaceted beauty.

Intersectionality perfectly aligns with the diverse experiences of women and is a framework that acknowledges the way multiple aspects of a person’s identity. This includes race, religion and socio-economic status. It interacts to create unique experiences of privilege and discrimination. This understanding of intersectionality recognizes the multiple layers of advantage and disadvantage that individuals face and highlights the importance of considering multiple identities when examining experiences. This idea is crucial in creating solutions that approach the intersection of multiple forms of oppression. On top of the well-known fact that most women are usually paid less than their male counterparts, the experiences of Black women in the workplace is more complex, shaped by the interplay of multiple forms of oppression. The standard for presenting yourself professionally targets their natural features. Many jobs ban hair that seems “unruly,” which is just another derogatory word to describe Black women’s hair. In 2010, Chastity Jones, a Black woman from Alabama, was offered a job at Catastrophe Management Solutions as a customer service representative (Vox, 2018). The job offer was withdrawn when Jones refused to cut her locs, which the company claimed were messy. In 2013, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission sued the company on Jones’s behalf, but both the district court and the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed the case. The combined impact of these intersecting forms of oppression created a unique set of challenges that must be overcome and cannot be fully addressed through a single-axis lens. This emphasizes the importance of understanding a person’s individuality and experiences for creating an inclusive society that supports marginalized groups.

Another example of additional identities would be a woman who identifies as LGBTQ+. They often face discrimination because of both their sexual orientation and gender identity, which can lead to social isolation. This can have negative impacts on their mental and physical health, including higher rates of depression and anxiety. Intersectionality is a crucial tool in the fight for gender equality and social justice, as it allows us to understand the complex and nuanced experiences of women and work towards creating solutions that address all aspects of their identity.

As a proud Asian-American who embraces both my queer and non-binary identities, I have a variety of experiences that are shaped by these intricacies. While some may see the labels of “woman” and “non-binary” as contradictory, I view it as a testament to the fact that our experiences are far more nuanced than just two binary gender options. Being non-binary means embracing a fluid sense of gender that isn’t limited to just “man” or “woman”. It’s not a matter of not being able to be one or the other, but rather the recognition that we are so much more than just those two labels.

In addition to embracing my queer identity, I am also aware of the experiences that come with being an Asian-American in today’s society. I navigate the complexities of cultural identity, confront the reality of racism and prejudice and work to reconcile the multiple aspects of myself in a world that may not always understand or accept me. Yet despite the challenges, I see my intersectional experiences as a source of strength and resilience. It is a reminder that no two people have exactly the same experiences. It’s important to recognize and celebrate the diversity of women’s experiences, including the unique challenges and strengths of this demographic. Being a woman is simply one aspect of a person’s identity and does not necessarily equate to having shared experiences with other individuals who identify as women. Failing to recognize the diversity of women’s experiences can lead to misunderstandings and reinforce harmful stereotypes. It’s crucial to embrace and cherish the varied experiences and to steer clear of generalizing or oversimplifying their lives. By recognizing the complexities and differences within the group of women, we can cultivate a more inclusive world, where every individual is honored and valued for their unique journey.