Why intersectionality matters when thinking about climate justice

In a 1989 paper, "Demarginalizing the Intersection of Race and Sex: A Black Feminist Critique of Antidiscrimination Doctrine," Kimberlé Crenshaw introduced the term intersectionality to discuss how various individual characteristics (race, gender, class, etc.) overlap and compound. 

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Here’s a quote from the original paper that explains intersectionality in a nutshell: 

I argue that Black women are sometimes excluded from feminist theory and antiracist policy discourse because both are predicated on a discrete set of experiences that often does not accurately reflect the interaction of race and gender. These problems of exclusion cannot be solved simply by including Black women within an already established analytical structure. Because the intersectional experience is greater than the sum of racism and sexism, any analysis that does not take intersectionality into account cannot sufficiently address the particular manner in which Black women are subordinated.

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So, what does intersectionality have to do with the climate movement? In short, everything. 

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The climate crisis will impact each of us differently based on who we are. There are different axes of discrimination that affect us, and our risks will only be compounded as the planet continues to warm. To help the most people, we must understand patterns of oppression, power, and discrimination.

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Here are some articles and papers for you to understand how this concept is applied through different lenses:

• ​The Impact of Climate Change on Black Girls' and Women's Health. One chilling quote: "In the event of a natural disaster, Black women are left disproportionately more vulnerable to disease, injury, assault, and even state-sponsored violence.”
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• Why climate change is inherently racist. This BBC article examines the deep implications of racism on a global level. Zambian climate activist Veronica Mulenga shares, "Historical and present-day injustices have both left black, indigenous and people-of-color communities exposed to far greater environmental health hazards than white communities. Those most affected by climate change are black and poor communities. As a continent we are one of the hardest hit by the impacts of climate change and we are left behind as the world progresses toward a low-carbon economy. Without taking into account those most affected, climate solutions will turn into climate exclusion." 
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• ​Yes, trans rights are an environmental issue, too. Grist shares the threats transgender and gender non-conforming people face from policy, pollution, and climate change in an interview with activist Precious Brady-Davis, a trans woman of color. She cites a shocking 2014 report that says trans women have a life expectancy of 30-35 years.

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Where do we go from here? Well, the biggest challenge is that the term has been taken out of its academic context and been used pretty much everywhere. Crenshaw compares it to a "very bad game of telephone" in this Cut article. We're contributing to this telephone right now, so it's important to try our best to not warp its meaning or throw it around carelessly. 

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Climate change continues to disproportionately impact Black and Brown communities who often have the least resources to take action. When it comes to climate doom and taking action on climate justice, we may wonder the following: How can I possibly do enough with the constrained resources I’ve got?

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Let’s dive deeper into the story of one town whose only resource was their fellow residents. They had nothing, yet they went up against a multi-billion dollar corporation to fight for climate and racial injustice. As you explore the following video that shows the St. James community coming together to fight Formosa Plastics, think about the intersections of privilege that are available to you. 

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You’ll learn that:

• 💨 Unacceptable pollution | One of the most polluted places in America is referred to as Cancer Alley. The residents there, primarily Black and Brown folks, are forced to deal with the cumulative impact of 200+ chemical plants.
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• 🩹 Intentional harm | Even after knowing about devastating health impacts of these petrochemical plants, in 2018, Formosa Plastics, a multibillion dollar company, was going to be permitted to build the biggest plastics plant ever built in Louisiana state. It would be permitted to emit known carcinogens.
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• 🏭 Historical greed and trauma | Corporations like Formosa are choosing to put their factories on top of slave lands. Many petrochemical plants in the state of Louisiana haven't paid taxes in decades, so residents don't even see the benefits of this industry in their communities. They're not getting tax money to pay for nice roads, good schools, beautiful neighborhoods, etc.

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Despite all this pain, St. James residents like activist Sharon Lavigne refuse to give up. She's taken Rise St. James all the way to the White House! As you watch the video and share it with a friend, reflect on HOW you can play a role in creating intersectional justice! If they can do this, we can do anything.

Thinking about intersectionality is crucial to learning about how we can take equitable action without displacing any communities. The following actions serve as a starting point for anyone who wants to learn how to put intersectionality into their daily practice.

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1. Audit your social media.
One of our favorite activities, and a great alternative to doom scrolling, is to go through the list of people you follow on social media and do some serious un-and re-following. Are the majority of voices on your feed from a certain race or gender? Would you like to change that?

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2. Follow intersectional environment leaders.
Once you make some space on your socials, follow leaders who are actively talking about intersectionality. You can start with Intersectional Environmentalist (they're on pretty much all the socials) and Black Girl Environmentalist. They link out to so many other experts who have broadened our worldview!

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3. Find a new intersection to deepen your curiosity.
What are you tangentially curious about? How does the climate crisis overlap with something you may have never thought of? For us, it's been about aging and senior poverty. We learned about Justice in Aging and we donate + support however we can. What will it be for you?

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4. Talk to a friend about intersectionality.
It's kind of hard to "take action" on intersectionality because it's not a one and done thing. We invite you to take this conversation out of the internet ether and into your physical world. Ask a friend the following: Do you know about intersectionality? What does it mean to you? How do you think about activism and advocacy as it relates to your identity? See what you learn from each other!

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5. Get involved in mutual aid.
You can search for an organization here. Mutual aid is not necessarily a form of intersectional activism, but we’ve found that most mutual aid efforts provide the perspectives we’re missing in traditional volunteering spaces. 

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Putting intersectionality into practice is definitely not an overnight task. It’s a life-long opportunity for anyone to continue listening and learning, and making space for different voices across the room. It may seem overwhelming at first, but this journey can open you up to new worldviews and perspectives. As always, remember to stay curious! 

Before we go any further, it's time for you to pledge your commitment. It takes less than 30 seconds to pledge and we can bother you about it in a friendly way, so we can hold each other accountable. Pledge here!

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🎯 Action step 4 of 4: REFLECT — what can you commit to? What fresh perspectives can we look at?

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Inspired by this Sierra Club article on how racism is killing the planet, the following reflection on intersectionality is written by Hop Hopkins, a social change strategist.

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Your reflection is yours and yours only, but we recommend setting your timer for 3 minutes and writing down a response to at least one of these prompts. 

• What do you think are the root causes of this mess we're in? Who has the most to lose and who has the most to gain?
• What does dehumanization look like when you think about climate impacts? How might you be unintentionally participating in it?
• What do you think drives people to extract so deeply? What stories make this possible?

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For our reflection, we chose to think about the second prompt and reflect on the painful ways we might be participating in dehumanization in the context of various systems such as housing and incarceration. We’ve been thinking a lot about how much we’ve had to unlearn about what is considered justice, whom public safety actually serves, and how language really shapes who is and isn't held accountable.​

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We’ve spent some years heavily auditing and expanding the voices we listen to online and IRL, and met some incredible folks who have changed our lives and rehumanized us. Our society is so deeply entrenched in the language of dehumanization that it takes away from our own compassion, empathy, and hunger for justice.

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All this to say: We’ve got a lifetime's worth of reflection ahead when it comes to the topic of intersectionality, but we’re so grateful for each person in our community (and beyond) who have expanded our worldview, our hearts, and our minds. 

‍🏁 Checkpoint: This is the end of action step 4 of 4: REFLECT.

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Check out our membership community for more resources like free weekly events with social justice experts, sustainable product discounts, pre-written email templates, a social impact job board, and in-person hangouts with new friends. Thanks for taking action with Soapbox Project!