Sociology and Criminology-Open Access
Open Access

Abstract

Black Eyes Matter: Nuances of Intersectionality and their Impact on Inclusion and Support

Wendy Ashley

This article explores the author’s experience with navigating invisible intersectionality factors, erroneous judgments by others and discovering her own resilience in the process. The author considers the binary of activism and respectful distance as responses to social problems, offering connection as a strategy to enhance human rights within the Black community. Personal and professional strategies are provided to promote recovery and healing; utilizing an autoethnography qualitative research method. Intersectionality refers to the diversity traits that make each of us unique and the corresponding power and privilege (or lack thereof) associated with the combination of factors. Managing the impact of circumstantial, life changing elements like grief, illness, disability or trauma is challenging, as they are often invisible and unacknowledged, frequently absent at birth, and represent a shift from previous intersectionality identification. When people are experiencing a juncture of stress or crisis and facing identity change, they are increasingly vulnerable, making the role of those providing personal or professional support more significant. Despite connection to certain communities, the ability to access one’s strengths and resilience is influenced by how one experiences these largely invisible elements. As a result, intersectionality is not static, providing opportunities to be defined and redefined throughout the life cycle depending on how one negotiates these experiences.