On March 6, 2025, YW Calgary is honoured to welcome Dr. Kimberlé Crenshaw at the 13th annual YWHISPER Gala – a rare opportunity to hear from a social justice pioneer who coined the term “intersectionality” in 1989.

Intersectionality focuses on how various forms of social layering, such as race, gender, or class overlap to form an individuals’ experiences and impact their choices and opportunities. All these forms of social layering intersect and bring with them unique challenges.

DELVING INTO THE FOUNDATIONS

Let’s look at the real-life example that impacted Dr. Crenshaw’s early work in this area: Emma Degraffenreid and four other Black women sued General Motors (GM) in 1976 for discriminatory hiring practices. The court dismissed their case, stating GM wasn’t racist (they hired Black men) or sexist (they hired white women).

This gap in the law – where race and gender discrimination cross – was defined by Dr. Crenshaw as “Intersectionality” to validate this overlapping of discrimination in our society. To address a problem, you need to first be able to name it.

OUR JOURNEY AT YW CALGARY

We apply intersectional thinking by amplifying—not replacing—the voices of women, particularly those with lived experiences, whose perspectives are often overlooked. While feminism historically centred on white women’s experiences, today’s approach recognizes how race, ethnicity, class, sexuality and ability intersect to share unique experiences.

Our commitment to intersectional thinking transforms how we understand and support our diverse participants. To give you an example, meet Abby. Abby came to YW after fleeing a domestic violence situation. Once she found physical safety at YW, her next steps were to find economic security. Finding a job and housing is challenging for any individual, but Abby’s search was made more complex by unaddressed mental health concerns, her lack of regular income, as well as the discrimination she faced by prospective landlords as a racialized woman.

In Abby’s case, we connected her with a psychiatrist to begin to address her mental health barriers. We helped quickly connect her to the provincial income supports she was eligible for, which gave her consistent and reliable income. We also connected her to housing providers we have worked with before and who we trust to uphold human rights standards.

By deepening our understanding of intersectionality, we strengthen our organization’s ability to provide supports and services that reflect the uniqueness of each of our participants and team members.

KNOWLEDGE IGNITES ACTION

Understanding intersectionality empowers us to create genuine belonging within our organization and greater community.

At YW Calgary, we:

  • Design programs with consideration for the diverse communities we support.
  • Consistently gather participant feedback through various methods to ensure our programs and services create a meaningful impact.
  • Advocate for policy changes addressing systemic barriers
  • Create spaces where diverse perspectives are valued and integrated

The impact? More effective, responsive programs that truly serve the needs of individuals, families and their community.

BROADEN YOUR PERSPECTIVE

Looking to hear more about this topic and deepen your understanding? Join us for an evening of meaningful change with Dr. Kimberlé Crenshaw at the 13th annual YWHISPER Gala on March 6, 2025.

Secure your tickets today at ywcalgary.ca/ywhisper