What is Intersectionality?
Why does it matter?
How does it offer a more nuanced understanding of work, organisations and economics?

Last week, Professor Adia-harvey-wingfield - visiting Oxford from Washington University in St Louis - addressed an audience of OUBEP delegates to answer these very questions. She began by introducing the work of KimberléCrenshaw who first coined the term 'intersectionality' in the 1980s to highlight the ways Black women were excluded from legal claims to employment discrimination.

Professor Wingfield went on to explore why intersectionality still holds such relevance today, particularly in explaining organisational economics, and referenced case studies from business and industry involving both women and men. "Although Crenshaw was initially framing this (intersectionality) to focus on Black women...by no means was she making an argument that Black women are the sole exclusive group to whom we want to focus when we're talking about intersectionality".

It was a fascinating and eye-opening thirty minutes that has generated much ongoing debate and discussion amongst her audience. This is a keynote talk for every working person - employers and employees alike - and anyone wishing to deepen their understanding of challenges to diversity, inclusion and equity in business and wider society.

Watch the presentation in full here, share it with your teams, peers and colleagues and tell us - what further questions does it raise?