Inclusivity, Victoria Villani……………………………………………………………………157 Insecurity, Julia Bocale

Insecurity

Julia Bocale

Here are two readings I used to gain my main points and ideas and helped inspire my thinking for my keyword Insecure. I also recommend looking to Persepolis 2 as a good example of society having influences on adolescents' insecurity. Allen, Sharee Nicole, "Adolescents, Social Media, and the Use of Self-Portraiture in Identity Formation" (2015). LMU/LLS Theses and Dissertations. 150. https://digitalcommons.lmu.edu/etd/150 Social Media and self-doubt. Child Mind Institute. (2022, September 2). Retrieved November 9, 2022, from https://childmind.org/article/social-media-and-self-doubt/

Intersectionality

Natalie Mandarino

Intersectionality refers to the interconnected and multidimensional social categorizations that converge and result in interdependent systems of discrimination (Crenshaw, 2018, p. 57). The term was coined by Kimberlé Crenshaw, an American advocate and lawyer, who identified the ways in which race and gender discrimination overlapped in relation to the societal oppression of black women. Intersectionality is deeply rooted in the black feminist movement, in which Crenshaw shed light on the unique legal challenges that protected white women and black men but failed to address the racialized and gendered disadvantages of black women in the legal case of DeGraffenreid v. General Motors (Crenshaw, 2018, p. 58). Crenshaw argued that the issues around black women should not be divided as separate oppressions, but rather, as intersecting identities that compound themselves and create obstacles which are not often understood in singular and conventional frameworks. With this in mind, the intersecting forms of discrimination include, but are not limited to, race, gender, class, sexuality, age, ethnicity, and disability. Intersectionality encourages individuals to examine one’s environment of privilege and engage with issues concerning unequal power relations, which primarily adheres to dominant hierarchies of whiteness, masculinity, and heterosexuality (Crenshaw, 2018, p. 58). The framework is crucial to the study of adolescent development and health as overlapping disadvantages that can be present and active at the same time shape the norms of belonging and exclusion in an adolescent’s life. The social context in which adolescents establish their sense of self accounts for the structures of power and privilege that determine their everyday lived experiences (Crenshaw, 2018, p. 59). In this way, it is evident that the experiences of a white, heterosexual, and able-bodied female student will vastly differ from the experiences of a disabled female student of color in the LGBTQ+ community. The societal

narratives and structures that shape norms and boundaries can significantly influence an adolescent’s social attitudes and beliefs, which, as a result, can impact their behavior and the ways in which they conduct themselves in the scope of social contexts. Notably, the process of gaining awareness of one’s intersecting oppressions, can contribute to the healthy identity development of adolescents. Adolescents can determine how their identities influence their social and political locations in the world which will aid them in understanding their evolving beliefs and behaviors on both individual and societal levels.

In the realm of education, intersectionality signifies the importance of equitable educational opportunities, which rely on educators to recognize and acknowledge the unique disadvantages of students that change in combination. To develop an understanding of adolescents means to delve deep into the norms, expectations, and lived realities that they endure throughout the process of identity development. Educators may address intersectional identities in the classroom setting by inspiring holistic learning that reflects the diverse lived experiences of all students and by eliminating the implementation of limited perspectives, histories, and knowledge. Gaining deeper insight into the ways in which adolescents navigate their multitude of identities, with reference to their social environments and lived experiences, can also assist teachers in developing curricula that adheres to the interests and demands of students and in fostering an inclusive classroom atmosphere. Therefore, it is crucial to gain insight into the concept of intersectionality, which outlines the interdependent systems and experiences of discrimination for youth, and significantly impacts the dynamic and essential process of identity development amongst all adolescents.

References

Crenshaw, K. (2018). Why intersectionality can’t wait. In M. Hobbs & C. Rice (Eds.), Gender

and Women’s Studies: Critical Terrain, Second Edition (pp. 57-61). Toronto, Ontario: Women’s Press.

Crenshaw, Kimberlé. (2016) “The Urgency of Intersectionality”. [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akOe5-UsQ2o Hopkins, Peter. (2018) “What is Intersectionality?”. [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1islM0ytkE&t=1s Soyheat. (2017) “Kids Explain Intersectionality”. [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WzbADY-CmTs