Which statement best describes intersectionality?

• A. It recognizes overlapping identities shape experiences of privilege and oppression.
• B. It treats each identity in isolation.
• C. It focuses only on class.
• D. It denies any role of gender.

Answer: (A)

Intersectionality explains how multiple social identities overlap to shape the way people experience privilege and oppression. It shows that identities like race, gender, class, sexuality, and disability don’t operate in isolation; they intersect and influence each other, creating unique patterns of advantage or disadvantage. That’s why recognizing overlapping identities as the driver of different experiences is the best description. Thinking of identities separately misses how they compound one another, and focusing on just one dimension (like class) or denying the role of gender ignores the ways these factors interact in real life.