DEI CPA TALK –

INTERSECTIONALITY
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ANDREA TORRES
Digital Content Management Intern
Professional Career Internship Program
Communications and Public Affairs

August 24, 2020

WHAT IS INTERSECTIONALITY?
“The interconnected nature of social categorizations such as race, class,
and gender, regarded as creating overlapping and interdependent
systems of discrimination or disadvantage.” –Oxford Dictionary
A BRIEF SUMMARY
Origins and Application
▪ Coined by Black woman and legal scholar
Kimberlé Crenshaw

▪ The law regarded racism and sexism

separately – invalidated Black women

▪ Framework to understand that people hold

various identities that contribute to their lived
experiences

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UNDERSTANDING INTERSECTIONALITY
MY INTERSECTIONALITY
How Intersectionality Impacts Me
▪ First generation Mexican-American woman

▪ Grew up in middle class white suburb

▪ Influences every aspect of my identity: personal values, communication style, etc.

▪ Appearances are impactful

– My skin tells a certain story
– Assumptions are common and ineffective

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WHY DOES IT MATTER?
HOW IT CAN IMPROVE THE WORKPLACE
Importance of Intersectionality in Communications
▪ Inclusive teams are more engaged and productive overall
– When an intersectional mindset is embraced, more people feel safe sharing
thoughts/opinions

▪ Recruit and retain those with overlapping types of diversity (22% of Gen Z has at
least one immigrant parent!)

▪ Awareness of differing speech codes can eliminate misunderstandings and

improve collaboration – clarify intention of someone’s communication style

▪ Tell individuals’ stories – oftentimes most impactful!

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HOW CAN WE BE MORE INTERSECTIONAL?
ACTION ITEMS
How Argonne Can Be More Intersectional and Inclusive
▪ Use pronouns (email signatures, meeting introductions, contact descriptions, etc.)
– i.e. She/her/hers, they/them/theirs, he/him/his

▪ Use inclusive language (“Where are you from?” Vs. “Where did you grow up?”)
– Use direct language instead of expressions/jargon

We must challenge biases in order to create a

safe, accessible, and inclusive space.

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THANK YOU! ANY QUESTIONS?
REFERENCES
▪ https://www.rw-3.com/blog/the-importance-of-intersectionality-in-an-inclusive-workplace

▪ https://www.rw-3.com/blog/the-increasing-opportunity-cost-of-ignoring-diversity-inclusion

▪ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9Ihs241zeg

▪ https://buffer.com/resources/inclusive-language-tech/

▪ https://isreview.org/issue/91/black-feminism-and-intersectionality

▪ https://www.ywboston.org/2017/03/what-is-intersectionality-and-what-does-it-have-to-do-with-me/

▪ https://www.pewsocialtrends.org/essay/on-the-cusp-of-adulthood-and-facing-an-uncertain-future-what-we-know-about-gen
-z-so-far/

▪ https://www.vox.com/the-highlight/2019/5/20/18542843/intersectionality-conservatism-law-race-gender-discrimination

▪ Page 276 of May-June 2007 American Psychologist Academic Journal

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