A part of one’s identity is their race, class, and gender; and these identities defines them. It is strange how a set combination of these identities differs one’s position in a society. This metaphorically reminds me of the sets we took in mathematics. You have different elements (identities as race, class and gender) that gives you different results based on intersections and unions.
In the paper “Mapping the Margins: Intersectionality, Identity Politics, and Violence Against Women of Color”, Kimberlé Williams Crenshaw has chosen a set of identities that are marginalized by society. Women (A) who are considered inferior to men, and who are of color (B). A and B together already puts you in a weak position. And if we topped these with the layer of social class and it is a poor one (C). Then A, B, and C together gets you the worst results, the most marginalized. People of power in society use intersectionality against them.
Merna Kostandy 