The conference theme

Intersectionality intends to explain how race, ethnicity, class, gender, sexual orientation, disability, religion, age, and other characteristics intersect and overlap with each other and affect the experiences of individuals or groups. Intersectional analysis is extensively used in fields of social science (e.g. (Belkhirand Ball 1993; Duffy 2004; Harvey 2005; Hooks1984; Hull et al. 1982; Knapp 2005; Smith and Stewart 1983; Steinbugler et al. 2006; Weber 2001). Applied to the workplace, intersectionality states that organisational imbalances are embedded in culturally specific working systems of privilege and power. It´s emphasis is on the characteristics that make the working experience an arena for multiple and simultaneous discriminatory practices to emerge. Discrimination in the form of ‘intersecting inequalities’ based on a person’s age, country of origin, disability, level of education or sexual orientation, is a key determinant both of a person’s exposure to and experience of inequality at work. 

An intersectional approach is particularly useful when addressing how women are constructed as vulnerable subjects. For example, an intersectional approach to reproductive governance recognizes the interconnected nature of reproductive issues with other forms of oppression and privilege. It seeks to address the unique challenges and inequalities faced by women based on their intersecting identities and experiences, and advocates for inclusive and equitable policies and practices. An intersectional approach of the workplace for example, is a response to the issue of addressing exclusion-inclusion sequentially, instead of synchronically.  A no-intersectional approach to inclusion would address one inclusive practice after the other, instead of considering them interdependent and in permanent interaction. The concept suggest that discriminatory practices are interlocked and the interactions and overlaps should be closely examined. Under an intersectional paradigm, barriers to inclusive practices in the workplace will comprehensively consider the multifaceted and complex characteristic of discrimination and react to it with several, not with simple, initiatives. We call for interest in producing potential research outputs on the theme “Intersectionality of women vulnerabilities at the workplace” in the form of a reverse conference.