Intersectionality

This chapter examines the concept of intersectionality - the intersection of gender with inequalities of race, ethnicity, class, sexuality, age, and other systems of domination - in relation to gender-based violence. It shows how applying an intersectional approach to the study of gender-based violence policies contributes to exposing power dynamics that intersecting systems of inequalities produce, and their effects on people and policymaking. It provides an intersectional perspective on the ways in which policymaking treats target groups of gender-based violence, exposing the focus on victims and the lack of attention to perpetrators, as well as the main inequality categories intersected in policymaking. It addresses the quality of policymaking process and content from an intersectional approach, pointing at inclusiveness as a key feature of intersectional policy approaches. It not only discusses approaches for applying intersectionality in policymaking that attempt to demarginalize people who experience intersecting inequalities, but also addresses challenging debates concerning the risks of stigmatization and culturalization of policy approaches that deal with multiple inequalities. Finally, the chapter recommends future studies to analyse the application of intersectional approaches in gender-based violence at the stage of policy implementation and develop intersectional educational practices that have the potential to deeply transform existing power inequalities.