What we talk about when we talk about Boko Haram.

[kjones]

6. I've had interesting discussions

I've had interesting discussions with people over talks of "intersectionality."
In essence, their point is (and I agree with the point, absolutely) that
varying forms of oppression can overlap and interact. What you get out
of adding "black" and "woman" together, for example, is not simply
black + woman, but instead, something more like an emergent property.
I think this is certainly true, in a lot of ways. The problem is that many
people don't take this idea to it's conclusion. They seem to leave it at the
analysis of oppressed groups, such that only oppression is considered.
They are less likely to consider what intersectionality entails for the
interactions of other identity features. In truth, everyone has an identity
which is composed of facets which are a mix of marginalized and non-
marginalized identity membership. Thus, we are all "oppressed" in some
ways and "oppressors" in others. We are all individuals, basically.
Or also, there is no reason that, male or female, someone can't be
oppressed in one context and oppressor in another, or vice versa.
No specifics, this is just general thoughts.


No matter where you are on the scale of oppressor-oppressed...
it's almost certain there is someone above and below you on
that scale.