Blurb:

Sarah E. Robinson’s essay, “Intersectionality, Solidarity, and Ultimately Flourishing,” describes the importance of intersectionality and solidarity. She writes about these subjects in the context of her academic background in religious studies, and the current political climate since the 2016 Presidential election in the United States. Robinson draws upon Kimberlé Crenshaw’s original definition of intersectionality, stating that race, religion, gender, class, sexuality, and age cannot be considered separately when examining social issues. Academics should dissect the socialized nature of many of these categories and how they function within society’s power structures to better their research and communities. Solidarity, Robinson describes, is as crucial as intersectionality because solidarity provides voices to the voiceless. It is the obligation of those with privilege to support movements for liberation from oppression. Using the example of Rosemary Radford Ruether, a theologian and prominent figure in religious studies during the late 20th and early 21st century, Robinson highlights the need for the privileged to directly engage with the oppressed to gain perspective and increase the impact and effectiveness of their activism. By combining intersectionality and solidarity, individuals and communities will flourish.