Volume 1, Number 8 (October 8, 2024)

Happy fall, y’all. The calendar reads October, but it’s still balmy here in the Great People’s Republic of Mt. Airy, Philadelphia where I live. I live in a glorious progressive bubble, one with yards festooned with Harris-Walz and “Vote for as if Your Rights Depend on It” signs. It’s a one of those neighborhoods that can easily lull one into comfort about the next presidential election.

With fewer than 30 days until the election, my state of mind is best described as hanging in there. I aspire to be “detached from the outcome” and all those lofty ideas that I’ve read about in my yoga and Buddhist books. As with everything in life though, my serenity is impermanent. One minute, I’m becalmed, floating in my “it’s all going to be alright” mode. The next, my amygdala is in overdrive, and I feel hopelessly dysregulated.

But I’ve some survival strategies that are getting me through. One is my back-and-forth text chain about all the political news of the day with my neighbor Mark. Mark and I take turns pulling each other out of our fits of political despair. Another lifeline is my friend Nick in San Francisco. I text him when I’m spiraling from a doom read and can always count on his sweet and reassuring reply that Harris will be our next president, complete with a link to some comforting news video or podcast.

Then, there’s this new bike sprint high intensity interval training that I’ve gotten myself into courtesy of Dr. Stacy Sims, an exercise physiologist who specializes in, ahem, keeping perimenopausal and menopausal women healthy and strong. I love running but my knees don’t and so my sprint training happens on my stationary bike. Sprint training involves peddling as fast and hard as you can, a 9 out of 10 effort for 30 seconds and then recovering for 30 seconds before repeating 5 other times, resting and then doing two additional sets of 6. I’m here to tell you that when you’re so busy loudly gasping for breath, sweating profusely, and cussin’, the madness of U.S. politics is the last thing on your mind. Looking for an election 2024 anxiety coping strategy? I recommend death-defying cardio.

Hope as discipline. This is what activist, grassroots organizer and prison industrial complex abolitionist Mariame Kaba invites as daily practice. I am choosing to practice hope, and will see you on the other side.

Cheers,

Lisa Bowleg, PhD, MA
Founder & President
Intersectionality Training Institute

Get Up to Speed on CritQuant and QuantCrit:
Vital for Intersectionality Researchers

We learn and work in siloes. Those of us in the academy know this to be true. Despite what our universities tout about cross and transdisciplinary science, our schools and departments are often inextricably siloed with few opportunities to interact or exchange knowledge. This has certainly been my experience as an undergraduate, graduate student, and professor.

An encounter after one of my talks at the University of Michigan (UM) earlier this year crystallized this siloed reality. After my talk, Professor Matthew Diemer**, Chair of UM’s Combined Education and Psychology Area, approached to say that much of what I discussed in my presentation about the need for intersectionality and more critical approaches to health equity research in the social and behavioral sciences sounded dovetailed with much of the contemporary QuantCrit and CritQuant literature in the discipline of education. Had I heard of it? I had not. A few days later, he followed up with an email (this generous exchange of knowledge is academia at its best) “to connect you to strands in Critical Quantitative methodology that align with and support the ideas you voiced.”  He added, “Have you seen David Gillborn’s QuantCRiT work?” I was both surprised and embarrassed that I hadn’t. I dove into this literature with relish. Given the QuantCrit and CritQuant’s close alignment with intersectionality research, I remain incredulous that this literature had eluded me.

I was struck by three things. The first, I’ve already told you. We are dreadfully siloed within the academy.  The second is that being so siloed is a significant loss to the advancement of solid theoretical and practical knowledge. And the third, is the starkly different approaches that the CritQuant and QuantCrit scholars in education have taken towards critical quantitative research, compared with those seeking to integrate intersectionality within disciplines such as epidemiology and psychology. CritQuant and QuantCrit scholars and researchers have adopted a decidedly critical approach, one that details how the objectivity and rigor claims of conventional quantitative research science has historically bolstered white supremacy.

By contrast, much of the quantitative intersectionality research that stems from epidemiology (and to a lesser extent psychology) smacks of methodolatry. Methodolatry is the term that feminist psychologist Jeanne Marecek (Marecek, 2003) coined to describe the idolization and fetishism of statistical methods within psychology.

Attention to quantitative intersectional methods and analyses — Interactions! Latent class analysis! MAIHDA! — have animated so many quantitative researchers in the social and behavioral sciences, that intersectionality’s critical and theoretical commitments (e.g., attention to power, social justice) simply drop out. Given that epidemiology is primarily atheoretical, this is not surprising; neither is the finding from three systematic reviews of quantitative intersectionality research that authors rarely defined or explained intersectionality (Bauer et al., 2021; Guan et al., 2021; Harari & Lee, 2021). But it’s not the quantitative methods that make a study intersectional; it’s the attention to interlocking systems of power (e.g., racism, sexism, heterosexism, and class exploitation).

Anyway, back to the QuantCrit and CritQuant literature. Time to get up to speed. Thereafter, your charge is to find opportunities to integrate this knowledge into your research, teaching, and advising.

QuantCrit vs. CritQuant: Histories and Contrasts 

I know. I know. The polysemy is wild, compounded by the mixed upper and lower case in some circles, but in short here’s what you need to know about the distinction. Historically rooted within sociology’s conflict theory tradition and its emphasis on class-based struggle, CritQuant is not linked to any particular theoretical or methodological approach, but is committed to using rigorous quantitative analytical approaches to challenge racism and racists systems (Diemer et al., 2024).

QuantCrit by contrast, traces its lineage to the work of legendary sociologists and Pan-Africanist civil rights activist W.E.B. DuBois, and specifically Critical Race Theory. As such, QuantCrit “explicitly embodies the tenets of CRT such as the centrality of racism” (Diemer et al., 2023, p. 3) and the use of critical quantitative analysis to produce counternarratives to racism in educational research. For excellent reviews of the history and distinctions, I direct you to Diemer et al. (2023) and Frisby (2024).

The 5 Tenets of QuantCrit (see for e.g., Castillo & Babb, 2024; Castillo & Gillborn, 2022; Garcia et al., 2018; Gillborn et al., 2018)

1. The centrality of racism
2. Numbers are not neutral or objective
3. Categories (e.g., “race”) are arbitrary
4. Numbers do not and cannot speak for themselves
5. The use of numbers for social justice

 

Critical Quantitative Literacy (CQL)

Frisby’s (2024) excellent must-read article describes Critical Quantitative Literacy (CQL) as:

the ability to read and produce quantitative research with a critical eye toward remediating the ways in which quantitative methods continue to perpetuate an oppressive status quo. CQL is formally defined as the critically informed understanding of the scope of quantitative methodology, including but not limited to statistical research design, definitions, variables, methods, and findings (p. 4)

Critical Race Quantitative Intersectionality (CRQI)

And yes, it’s time to get up to speed on Critical Race Quantitative Intersectionality (CRQI). Covarrubias and Vélez (2013), the authors of the article on CQRI define it as: “… an explanatory framework and methodological approach that utilizes quantitative methods to account for the material impact of race and racism at its intersection with other forms of subordination and works toward identifying and challenging oppression at this intersection in hopes of achieving social justice for students of color, their families, and their communities.” (p. 276)

Like QuantCrit, CQRI also has 5 principles:

1. Quantifying the material impact of racism at its intersections: Intersectional data mining
2. Challenging the neutrality of quantitative data: Numbers do not “speak for themselves”
3. Originating from the experiential and material experiences of people of color
4. Being intentionally committed to addressing injustice and seeking transformation; and
5. Taking a transdisciplinary perspective and methods for revealing elusive and hidden patterns

Professor Nancy López, Professor of Sociology at the University of New Mexico, and the visionary behind groundbreaking research and advocacy on “street race,” and, informed by intersectionality, academic achievement, and U.S. Census Bureau racial and ethnic classifications, (and our December 2023 Intersectionality Research Salon guest), has also been instrumental advancing QuantCrit with her advocacy to center CRT and intersectionality within quantitative research.

Your QuantCrit and CritQuant Reading List (organized chronologically by year of publication)

You should read everything on this list, but I know folks are pressed for time and so I’ve placed an asterisk by the ones you may want to prioritize. Consider starting with Castillo and Gillborn, followed by Frisby. But to repeat, you should read everything on this list!

1. *Gillborn, D. (2010). The colour of numbers: Surveys, statistics and deficit‐thinking about race and class. Journal of Education Policy, 25(2), 253-276. https://doi.org/10.1080/02680930903460740
2. *Covarrubias, A., & Vélez, V. N. (2013). Critical Race Quantitative Intersectionality: An anti-racist research paradigm that refuses to “let the numbers speak for themselves”. In M. Lynn & A. D. Dixson (Eds.), Handbook of Critical Race Theory in Education (pp. 270-286). Routledge.
3. Crawford, C., Demack, S., Gillborn, D., & Warmington, P. (2018). Quants and crits: Using numbers for social justice (Or, how not to be lied to with statistics) 1. In J. T. DeCuir-Gunby, T. K. Chapman, & P. A. Schutz (Eds.), Understanding critical race research methods and methodologies: Lessons from the field. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315100944
4. Garcia, N. M., López, N., & Vélez, V. N. (2018). QuantCrit: Rectifying quantitative methods through critical race theory. Race Ethnicity and Education, 21(2), 149-157. https://doi.org/10.1080/13613324.2017.1377675
5. *Gillborn, D., Warmington, P., & Demack, S. (2018). QuantCrit: Education, policy, ‘Big Data’ and principles for a critical race theory of statistics. Race Ethnicity and Education, 21(2), 158-179. https://doi.org/10.1080/13613324.2017.1377417
6. López, N., Erwin, C., Binder, M., & Chavez, M. J. (2018). Making the invisible visible: Advancing quantitative methods in higher education using critical race theory and intersectionality. Race Ethnicity and Education, 21(2), 180-207. https://doi.org/10.1080/13613324.2017.1375185
7. *Castillo, W., & Gillborn, D. (2022). How to “QuantCrit:” Practices and questions for education data researchers and users (EdWorkingPaper: 22-546). Annenberg Institute at Brown University. https://edworkingpapers.com/sites/default/files/ai22-546.pdf
8. *Frisby, M. B. (2024). Critical quantitative literacy: An educational foundation for critical quantitative research. AERA Open, 10, 23328584241228223. https://doi.org/10.1177/23328584241228223
9. Diemer, M., Frisby, M. B., Marchand, A., & Bardelli, E. (2024). Illustrating and enacting a critical quantitative approach to measurement with MIMIC models. Journal of Research on Educational Effectiveness, 1-24. https://doi.org/10.1080/19345747.2024.2391774
10. *Vargas, J. H., & Peet, J. Z. (2024). The first primer for the QuantCrit-curious critical race theorist or psychologist: On intersectionality theory, interaction effects, and AN(C)OVA/regression models. Journal of Social Issues, 80(1), 168-217. https://doi.org/10.1111/josi.12604

 

Must-Read Books to Building CQL

 

• Bonilla-Silva, E., & Zuberi, T. (Eds.). (2008). White logic, white methods: Racism and methodology. Rowman and Littlefield.
• Garcia, N. M., López, N., & Vélez, V. N. (Eds.). (2023). Quantcrit: An antiracist quantitative approach to educational inquiry. Routledge.
• Gomez, L.E. & López, N. (2013).  Mapping “race”: Critical approaches to health disparities research. Rutgers.
• Huff, D. (1954/2010). How to lie with statistics. Norton.
• Harari, L., & Lee, C. (2021). Intersectionality in quantitative health disparities research: A systematic review of challenges and limitations in empirical studies. Social Science & Medicine, 277. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2021.113876
• Marecek, J. (2003). Dancing through minefields: Toward a qualitative stance in psychology. In P. M. Camic, J. E. Rhodes, & L. Yardley (Eds.), Qualitative research in psychology: Expanding perspectives in methodology and design (pp. 49-69). American Psychological Association.

**Note of Gratitude: I’m deeply grateful to Professor Diemer for introducing me to the CritQuant and QuantCrit literature.

 

References

• Bauer, G. R., Churchill, S. M., Mahendran, M., Walwyn, C., Lizotte, D., & Villa-Rueda, A. A. (2021). Intersectionality in quantitative research: A systematic review of its emergence and applications of theory and methods. SSM – Population Health, 14. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssmph.2021.100798
• Castillo, W., & Babb, N. (2024). Transforming the future of quantitative educational research: A systematic review of enacting quantCrit. Race Ethnicity and Education, 27(1), 1-21. https://doi.org/10.1080/13613324.2023.2248911
• Castillo, W., & Gillborn, D. (2022). How to “QuantCrit:” Practices and questions for education data researchers and users (EdWorkingPaper: 22-546). https://edworkingpapers.com/sites/default/files/ai22-546.pdf
• Covarrubias, A., & Vélez, V. N. (2013). Critical Race Quantitative Intersectionality: An anti-racist research paradigm that refuses to “let the numbers speak for themselves”. In M. Lynn & A. D. Dixson (Eds.), Handbook of Critical Race Theory in Education (pp. 270-286). Routledge.
• Diemer, M., Frisby, M. B., Marchand, A., & Bardelli, E. (2024). Illustrating and enacting a critical quantitative approach to measurement with MIMIC models. Journal of Research on Educational Effectiveness, 1-24. https://doi.org/10.1080/19345747.2024.2391774
• Frisby, M. B. (2024). Critical quantitative literacy: An educational foundation for critical quantitative research. AERA Open, 10, 23328584241228223. https://doi.org/10.1177/23328584241228223
• Garcia, N. M., López, N., & Vélez, V. N. (2018). QuantCrit: Rectifying quantitative methods through critical race theory. Race Ethnicity and Education, 21(2), 149-157. https://doi.org/10.1080/13613324.2017.1377675
• Gillborn, D., Warmington, P., & Demack, S. (2018). QuantCrit: Education, policy, ‘Big Data’ and principles for a critical race theory of statistics. Race Ethnicity and Education, 21(2), 158-179. https://doi.org/10.1080/13613324.2017.1377417
• Guan, A., Thomas, M., Vittinghoff, E., Bowleg, L., Mangurian, C., & Wesson, P. (2021, 2021/12/01/). An investigation of quantitative methods for assessing intersectionality in health research: A systematic review. SSM – Population Health, 16, 100977. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssmph.2021.100977

“An analysis of joy enables one to consider different social factors that may influence an individual’s access to joy
(e.g., oppression, discrimination and the like).”

An Interview with Courtney Gardner (ISI 2023)

What sparked your interest in the topic of joy, particularly with your population of focus: young Black transgender and nonbinary people?

[It] was sparked by two interconnected factors. First, my chair Dr. Shannon Carter sent me a thought-provoking article that discussed the joy deficit in sociology, particularly in relation to scholarship about transgender people. The article and my chair served as a compelling springboard for my deeper exploration into the topic of joy and other strength-based studies, prompting me to consider what may be revealed if I asked Black transgender and nonbinary young adults about joy and the social processes that may elicit it.

Second, my research has consistently centered around the lived experiences of Black Americans. Given my interests, I began to delve into the topics of elation and joy within the lives of transgender and nonbinary people. The focus on joy, I believe, is critical as it not only counters the at times shallow portrayal of Black transgender and nonbinary people within the research literature but the focus on joy with my population of focus emphasizes agency and creativity in fostering joyful experiences in the contemporary social, political, and healthcare contexts in Florida. As I continue my research, I am motivated to document the subjugated knowledge and lived experiences of a group (i.e., 30 Black transgender and nonbinary young adults) in a particular socio-political time and space.

As you know from your own interest in intersectionality, and your participation in ISI 2023, joy is not one of the core themes that shows up in Collins’ and Bilge’s 6 core themes of intersectionality. How should people square a focus on joy with that of intersectionality’s historic emphasis on heavier and painful topics such as social inequality, oppression and discrimination?

The analysis of joy is not entirely new. Black feminists like Patricia Hill Collins (1991) have noted that amidst the oppression that women experience, there is still joy. While Collins’ (1991) analysis of joy was often in the margins (to my knowledge), her work was still clear that Black people and their social experiences can be filled with both joy and sadness, love and hate, and hope and despair. I argue that focusing on joy can give one a deeper view of social inequality, which is one of Collins’ and Bilge’s core themes of intersectionality (i.e., social inequality). An analysis of joy enables one to consider different social factors that may influence an individual’s access to joy (e.g., oppression, discrimination and the like).

I’m also curious about how you think about the potential political risks of highlighting joy given what we know about the onslaught of political attacks on transpeople. Take for example, the August 2024 policy in Texas that prohibits transgender and nonbinary drivers from listing the sex that aligns with their gender identity on their driver’s license. What are your thoughts about emphasizing joy in this current (and foreseeably worsening) transphobic and cisgenderist political climate?

Highlighting joy in this current transphobic and cisgenderist political climate is a complex and nuanced issue. On the one hand, celebrating joy can serve as a powerful form of resistance and strength, creating community and solidarity among historically oppressed populations. Joy can be a method of affirming one’s identity and existence under specific oppressive regimes, and it can also help foster a sense of hope and empowerment, which can be crucial for mental well-being.

However, there is a valid concern that focusing on joy might inadvertently downplay or overshadow the real onslaught of political attacks on transpeople. This can lead to a disconnection from the very real challenges that many transpeople experience, potentially creating an impression that the issues are less significant than they are.

To navigate these competing dynamics, I believe it is beneficial to emphasize a balance of both joy and struggle (the duality of life). This means recognizing and amplifying the joy that exists within the community while also acknowledging the severe challenges and political attacks that block transpeople from the right to publicly exist.

In contexts like the Texas policy you mentioned, it is still important to emphasize joy as the inequalities literature shows that oppression is by no means absolute. While the political climate is harsh, I think it’s more important than ever to remember that life functions both in “sorrow but more often in genuine joy…” (Collins 1991:101).

I’d be remiss if I failed to highlight the obvious: you are doing this important work while living and studying in Florida, a state in which your governor (Ron DeSantis) has launched an all-out assault on transgender and nonbinary people.  What’s it like to do your dissertation research while living and working in Florida?

Conducting research in Florida, particularly in areas that exhibit hard-right political leanings, can indeed be challenging. The anti-trans, anti-gay, and anti-racial inclusion policies have made living in Florida difficult at times. I recall last year one weekend my mother was in town, and I was excited to show her around. We were in the car passing a town center near my home when I noticed a group of neo-Nazis and white supremacists bearing signs with Nazi symbols and anti-gay messages. This situation was very distressing, especially while living in a state where discriminatory policies are steadily being enacted.

When it comes to studying in Florida, things are the complete opposite. Although I’ve encountered a few research participants who were hesitant to join a study on the experiences of trans individuals, the majority have expressed a strong desire to participate. That sort of commitment from participants is due in part to the sensitivity and care we [the study team I work on] lead with. Overall, while the challenges of doing my dissertation research in Florida is significant, the opportunities for meaningful engagement and impact have aided my existence here.

What are some of your strategies for maintaining joy under these circumstances?

Maintaining joy in the face of challenging circumstances in Florida (or anywhere else) can be many-sided. One effective strategy for me is to lean on my support system of friends and family who offer encouragement. I also engage in activities I love, like painting, tackling 1,000-piece puzzles, and trying different fitness classes, all of which maintain my joy. Additionally, I find motivation in planning for the future and eagerly anticipate the day I can relocate to cities like DC, Philadelphia, Charlotte, Raleigh, or Chicago.

What does your ideal post-dissertation professional life look like?

I envision my post-dissertation professional life in a role where I can fully leverage my skills in research planning and implementation, along with my multimethod research expertise and innovative thinking. I am dedicated to conducting research that highlights the voices of socially disadvantaged communities, drawing on the knowledge I have acquired throughout my academic journey. My goal is to make a significant contribution to both social science and health sciences, in an academic or nonacademic career that seamlessly integrates research, creativity, teaching, and practical application. I am on the job market!

As a member of the ISI 2023 cohort, what would you say is the one thing that you learned during your time at the Intensive that informs your dissertation research? Or, that you still struggle or grapple with?

I learned the value of shifting my thinking from the individual toward the structural. Before the Intensive I would focus on how systems of oppression impact the individual and I was probably way too overly focused on the person. The person adds context to the analysis, but I have learned to be attentive to the structure. Shifting away from the person and refocusing on the structure offers insight into the structural details that impact many more people. Additionally, I learned how to articulate structure when the participant does not.

In a world that’s ever grim and challenging what things are bringing you joy (could be personal and/or professional) these days?

Personally, any sort of [physical] movement brings me joy. There is so much power in movement because (for me) it is intertwined with a lot of activities that bring me joy such as hot yoga, long distance bike rides, exploring cities on foot, and solo tripping. Other things that provide me with joy are moments of full-bellied laughs with my friends (heads thrown back, hands slapping on tables), the uninterrupted fun at Black owned brunch spots, and hugs from loved ones. I have an amazing mother that I love spending time with. Not only because she’s my mother but I truly appreciate all the sacrifices she has made as a woman who attended segregated schools and often held more than one job, which led to a smoother life for me. Professionally, I have cultivated a strong relationship with a group of primarily Black women students – scholars who I work on Zoom in community with who exemplify courage and integrity. It gives me professional joy to work with those women.

What was the last book, piece of music, or art you enjoyed that made you think, “This is so good, I gotta tell everybody about this!”?

I am a big fan of art. I have the artworks of many emerging artists displayed on my apartment wall. The latest piece of art I have is of Kendrick Lamar in his “Not Like Us” video. In one scene, the camera pans out and shows Kendrick skipping through a hopscotch game. The latest piece of art hanging on my gallery wall is a print of Kendrick skipping through a chalk-lined hopscotch game. I absolutely love this new piece!

C3 Intersectionality Grants

Ana María del Río-González, PhD, MS, (above left) an Associate Professor in the Department of Prevention and Community Health, in the Milken Institute School of Public Health at The George Washington University (ISI 2022), and March 2023 Intersectionality Research Salon guest, Ayden Scheim, PhD, (above right) an Assistant Professor of Epidemiology in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, in the Dornsife School of Public Health at Drexel University are new joint PIs of a new R01 grant. Funded by the National Institutes of Minority Health and Health Disparities/NIH (R01MD020284), the title of the new grant is, “Measures of Structural Stigmatization and Discrimination for HIV Research with Latine Sexual and Gender Minorities.” Congratulations Ana María and Ayden!

You know how we’re always reminding you that intersectionality is not just about research and analysis, but about critical praxis, or as Patricia Hill Collins (2015) reminds us in her Intersectionality As Definitional Dilemma article, “intersectionality [is] critical praxis [that] sheds light on the doing of social justice work” (p. 16), Dr. Willie’s project, funded by the Bloomberg American Health Initiative, exemplifies what we at ITI mean when we talk about intersectionality as critical praxis.

Dr. Kamila Alexander, an Associate Professor in the School of Nursing at the Johns Hopkins University (ISI 2022), Dr. Willie’s close collaborator on the project, and Dr. Willie described their work on this initiative in a coauthored article, titled “An Epidemic of Missing Black Women Has Been Ignored for Too Long,” in The Hill.

Dr. Willie and Dr. Alexander at the congressional briefing

Dr. Willie’s team with Representative Ilhan Omar of Minnesota (in red) at the briefing

Rep. Omar has been instrumental in seeking to create a federal office of missing and murdered Black women and girls.

Would you like to be featured in The C³?  We’d love to hear from you.  Please email us at info@intersectionalitytraining.com, subject line: C3 and let us know what you’ve been up to intersectionality-wise, and we’ll be in touch. 
We thank you in advance for your support.

• Also check out Dr. Gross’s September 19^th op-ed, Why Kamala Harris’ Promises on Abortion Matter So Much to Black Women in Time’s Made by History section.
• You don’t see the term “intersectional identities” in the Washington Post every day, but there it was in a September 19th story about sports analyst Monica McNutt taking on ESPN stars’ Stephen A. Smith and Shannon Sharpe to defend the players — most of them Black, many lesbian — in the Women’s National Basketball Association. She recounted: “As a media-savvy person, I can recognize it got us talking {about the WNBA],” she said. “But for me, knowing how hard these women have fought for coverage, they’re fighting for [a collective bargaining agreement], and they just want to be respected. And all of these intersectional identities that already get pushed off to the corner and just general society at large, you might just take a deep breath, recognize you just got here [and] you’re not the expert. So I don’t know — is that unfair? Am I being too altruistic? Possibly.”
• And kudos to C3 member, Leah Marcotte, MD (ISI 2022) who back in June, had forwarded me a clip of McNutt in essence saying the same thing in a smart conversation about the same topic with Jon Stewart on the Daily Show. The reference to intersectionality starts around 4:43, and in this conversation, McNutt talked about what she called the “isms,” not just the “intersectional identities.” It’s a smart and insightful conversation.
• From the Black women can’t catch a break gendered racism department, this October 3rd Washington Post article detailed how the algorithm at Hinge, a dating app is biased against Black women. Several Black women noted they when they noted their race as white (but did not change their photos), the app sent them better matches, compared to when they noted they were Black.
• Well, this is the type of important news you miss because you are not on social media. I just learned last week that Bernice Johnson Reagon, a founder of The Freedom Singers and Sweet Honey in the Rock died in July. Dr. Reagon was a force of nature with a voice that could move mountains, and a charge that reminded us to keep fighting for justice. I saw Sweet Honey in the Rock numerous times and continue to be inspired by their beautiful, soul-stirring, and get-your-butt-up-and-do-something in-service-of-social-justice music. This is not the first time you’ve ready about Sweet Honey In the Rock in This, That and The Other. May Dr. Reagon rest in power. Her time on this planet was powerfully spent.
• And speaking of social media, I found this September 17th New York Times essay that reported the results of a nationally representative survey of 1,006 Gen Z adults between their ages of 18-27 about their social medial use, and the impact of social media on their lives and society. The results were grim. Sixty percent of the respondents said that social media had a negative impact on society, and although the data were not presented intersectionally (no surprises there), women (44%) compared with men (31%) and LGBTQ (47%) compared with heterosexual respondents (35%) were significantly more likely to report that social medial had negatively affected their emotional health.

Got something that you’d like to see featured in This, That & The Other? We’d like to know about it.  Please email us at info@intersectionalitytraining.com, subject line: TTTO.  Please let us know what you’ve heard about, read, or seen intersectionality-wise, attach a copy or link, and we may feature it in This, That & The Other.  And of course, we will give you credit for the find.  Thank you in advance.

We kicked off the fall with our special guest, Dr. Elizabeth Cole, Professor of Women’s Studies, Psychology, and Afroamerican and African Studies at the University of Michigan. Our salon happened the night after Vice President Harris’ triumphant debate against the Republican candidate, prompting Dr. Cole to joke that she felt presumptuous about putting her name in the same sentence as Harris’ for this salon. Cole’s 2009 American Psychologist article, “Intersectionality and Research in Psychology,” is a foundational one in the field with more than 4,000 Google Scholar citations. She’s also been a vocal critic of mainstream psychology’s epistemic resistance to intersectionality. Here’s some key takeaways from the salon:

• Cole explored the concept of generations of intersectionality. Drawing on generational parallels between her work, specifically, her “Opening Doors for the Insurgent” chapter, and Kamala Harris’s original presidential bid, Dr. Cole reflected on the obligations of earlier generations of intersectionality scholars to support, encourage and advance the more challenging intersectionality work of early career intersectionality scholars, and how to best meet those obligations.
• She recounted how the initial versions of her American Psychologist article offered a more radical take on intersectionality, but how after seven reviewers weighed in on it during the peer review process, resulted in a manuscript that was a tad less provocative than the original version that she had submitted to the journal.
• Cole described how a 2019 Facebook post by Brittney Cooper, a Professor of Women’s Gender and Sexuality Studies at Rutgers-New Brunswick reflecting on criticisms launched against Kamala Harris’s 2020 presidential campaign that Harris was not sufficiently progressive and that she had been a prosecutor, spurred Cole to reflect on generational differences between the professional struggles and choices of that earlier generations of Black women (e.g., Harris, Cole) made, and that of contemporary scholars. Cooper’s post sought to bring nuance to the discussion about Harris, noting Cooper’s interest in “… resist[ing] the desire to be like ‘good riddance, [Harris] wasn’t bout shit.’  Cuz anytime people do that to Black women, a second look is “always’ required.”  (Cooper, 2019 as cited in Cole, 2020, p. 19).
• In line with Cooper’s caution to take a “second look,” Cole reflected about the extent to which she had colluded with the disciplinary norms of psychology to get her article published in such a top-tier journal (American Psychologist is the flagship journal of the American Psychological Association with an impressive impact factor of 12.3 in 2023, and a 5-year impact of 16.2), and now that she had done all that was necessary to “walk through these doors” (i.e., get tenure, get promoted to full professor), what did those of us who made it through the doors previously closed to us, owe the next generation: the insurgents.
• Cole noted that her use of the word insurgent drew on Cho, Crenshaw and McCall’s (2013) use of the word insurgent throughout their article to describe how “scholars interested in intersectionality [typically] strike out mainly in the margins of their disciplines and are often skeptical about the possibility of integrating mainstream methods and theories into their intersectional research.” (p.793). Following up on a discussion about insurgent knowledge, Bowleg asked whether salonistes considered themselves to be insurgent, or whether they felt as if they were still battling many of the same struggles as the older generations of scholars who preceded them.  Still battling appeared to be the answer.
• Asked that they wanted, many graduate student salonistes said they longed for more guidance and mentorship from senior intersectionality scholars; a topic that we’ll revisit in the October salon. One saloniste recommended that senior scholars can support the current generation of intersectionality scholars by: (1) supporting contemporary insurgent scholars who want to “burn it all down” (i.e., conventional and restrictive structures) and (2) “sprinkling bread crumbs” about how to succeed in unsupportive academic cultures.
• Cole described how the article that she wrote during the pandemic, “An Argument Against Bad Psychology,” was prompted by her wanting to criticize how disciplinary norms such as those about objectivity interfere with transformative social justice work because scholars who seek to do transformative work are accused of bias, and their work is often not considered to be as serious or rigorous.
• Although Cole’s 2009 article is her most cited, she considered her 2008 Sex Roles article, “Coalitions as a Model for Intersectionality: From Practice to Theory” to be one her best papers. Note: Cole’s article begins with a reference to the late Dr. Bernice Johnson’s Reagon’s (see This, That and The Other, this issue) famous speech about coalitions as a vital, albeit dangerous, sites for political transformation.
• How should early career scholars think about balancing their desire to do transformative work with the work required to advance professionally (e.g., finish the dissertation, get tenure)?, salonistes asked. Bowleg recommended two strategies: postpone the more transformative projects until after you have secured what you need to do to keep your job; or two, try to find ways to do both simultaneously (i.e., publish in conventional journals for tenure and publish in journals and other outlets that will be more welcoming of intersectionality and other transformative research). Dr. Cole recommended that people should think about their careers as a book with many chapters and remember that they can always revisit those chapters when the time is right.  She recommended salonistes check out the  National Center for Faculty Development and Diversity’s resources for conceptualizing a career as a series of chapters.
• Asked about the kinds of things that might be keeping her up at night (a callback to a passage in her “Opening the Doors for the Insurgent” article), Cole said she was concern about the looming threats posed to diversity, equity, and inclusion works, and intersectionality were Trump to be re-elected.
• Cole ended with an important call to action, one that she typically invokes in her role as Director of the National Center for Institutional Diversity at the University of Michigan: “What do we need to be doing to ensure that this important work [i.e., DEI, intersectionality] continues for future generations and creates real change?

 

Resources from the Conversation and Chat:

• Alexander-Floyd, N. G. (2017). Radical Black feminism and the fight for social and epistemic justice. In M. Michell and D. Covin (Eds.), Broadening the Contours in the Study of Black Politics (pp. 63-73). Routledge.
• Cho, S., Crenshaw, K. W., & McCall, L. (2013). Toward a field of intersectionality studies: Theory, applications, and praxis. Signs, 38(4), 785-810. https://doi.org/10.1086/669608
• Cole, E. R. (2008). Coalitions as a model for intersectionality: From practice to theory. Sex roles, 59, 443-453. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-008-9419-1
• Cole, E. R. (2009). Intersectionality and research in psychology. American Psychologist, 64, 170-180. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0014564
• Cole, E. R. (2020). Opening the doors for the insurgent. In S. Fenstermaker & A. J. Stewart (Eds.), Gender, Considered: Feminist Reflections Across the U.S. Social Sciences (1st ed., pp. 9-28). Palgrave Macmillan.
• Cole, E. R. (2023). Beyond identity: Intersectionality and power. In E. L. Zurbriggen & R. Capdevila (Eds.), The Palgrave Handbook of Power, Gender, and Psychology (pp. 29-42). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-41531-9_3
• Cole, E. R., & Duncan, L. E. (2023). Better policy interventions through intersectionality. Social Issues and Policy Review, 17(1), 62-78. https://doi.org/10.1111/sipr.12090
• Collins, P. H. (2017). Intersectionality and epistemic injustice. In I. J. Kidd (Ed.), The Routledge Handbook of Epistemic Injustice (pp. 115-124). Routledge.
• Collins, P. H. (2019). Intersectionality as critical social theory. Duke University.
• Giddings, P. (1984). When and where I enter: The impact of Black women on race and sex in America. Bantam Books.
• Grzanka, P. R., & Cole, E. R. (2021). An argument for bad psychology: Disciplinary disruption, public engagement, and social transformation. American Psychologist, 76(8), 1334. https://doi.org/10.1037/amp0000853
• Grzanka, P. R., & Cole, E. R. (2023). Routledge Companion to Intersectionalities. In J. C. Nash & S. Pinto (Eds.), Waves and riptides: Mapping intersectionality’s currents in feminist psychology (pp. 117-132). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003128656-12
• Guinier, L., Fine, M., & Balin, J. (1997). Becoming gentlemen: Women, law school, and institutional change. Beacon.
• Hankivsky, O., Grace, D., Hunting, G., Ferlatte, O., Clark, N., Fridkin, A., & Laviolette, T. (2012). Intersectionality-based policy analysis. An intersectionality-based policy analysis framework, 33-45. http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12939-014-0119-x
• Lorde, A. (1984). The master’s tools will never dismantle the master’s house. In Sister Outsider (pp. 110-113). Freedom, CA: Sister Visions Press.
• National Center for Institutional Diversity University of Michigan. (2021). Kamala Harris Public Syllabus. https://lsa.umich.edu/ncid/antiracism-collaborative/building-community/kamala-harris-public-syllabus.html
• Veldhuis, C. B., Cascalheira, C. J., Delucio, K., Budge, S. L., Matsuno, E., Huynh, K., Puckett, J. A., Balsam, K. F., Velez, B. L., & Galupo, M. P. (2024). Sexual orientation and gender diversity research manuscript writing guide. Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity. https://doi.org/10.1037/sgd0000722

• Phew, has it been a busy fall at ITI! We’ve facilitated eight different virtual trainings for an Institute at NIH, two different divisions at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a federally qualified health center, and university institute.
• Heading to the American Public Health Association (APHA) Convention and Expo in Minneapolis, MN later this month? So are we! You’ll find us in two places:
  • An ITI-sponsored panel titled, “Applying Intersectionality to Research to Advance Health Equity and Reduce HIV, Breast Cancer, and Sexual and Gender Minority Cardiometabolic Health Inequities from Historically Marginalized Intersectionally-Diverse Groups.” The panel, which will feature members of the Intersectionality Summer Intensive (ISI) community, Dr. Ellesse Akre (ISI 2022), Stephanie Cook (ISI 2022), Dr. Jen Glick (ISI 2023), Dr. Leah Marcotte (ISI 2023) and her community collaborator, Ms. Bridgette Hempstead of Cierra Sisters, and Dr. Tiara Willie (ISIS 2022) will discuss their various intersectionality research projects. Dr. Bowleg will moderate the panel, which will be held on Tuesday, October 29, at 10:30amCT in 103B. We’d be thrilled to see you there.
  • Visit our booth (#1611) at the APHA 2024 Expo. We had so much fun at last year’s expo that we’re making a return appearance. If you find yourself moseying through the Expo, stop by and see us and grab some ITI swag!