--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: This is the whole point of…" description: "\"This is the whole point of intersectionality - that it cannot only be a single-issue analysis of race and gender, and instead must consider the cumulat..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f60/meena-harris-11782_discrimination_this-is-the-whole-point-of-intersectiona_1535064.jpg" --- # This is the whole point of intersectionality - that it… ![“This is the whole point of intersectionality - that it cannot only be a single-issue analysis of race and gender, and instead must consider the cumulative impact of various and simultaneous identities that compound the effects of discrimination.” quote by Meena Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f60/meena-harris-11782_discrimination_this-is-the-whole-point-of-intersectiona_1535064.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f60/meena-harris-11782_discrimination_this-is-the-whole-point-of-intersectiona_1535064.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f60/meena-harris-11782_discrimination_this-is-the-whole-point-of-intersectiona_1535064.jpg) > “This is the whole point of intersectionality - that it cannot only be a single-issue analysis of race and gender, and instead must consider the cumulative impact of various and simultaneous identities that compound the effects of discrimination.” [Meena Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meena-harris/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Intersectionality argues that oppression cannot be understood by examining race or gender alone; multiple identities intersect, creating layered discrimination. **In simple terms:** Discrimination adds up from many identities. Key Takeaway Recognize and address overlapping biases. Themes equality identity social justice Mood thoughtful analytical Type theoretical educational When to use this quote - workplace policies - educational curricula - legal frameworks - community organizing Key Concepts intersectionality systems of oppression compound discrimination Questions to Reflect On - How do multiple identities shape your experience? - What policies can address layered discrimination? A Different Perspective May oversimplify individual experiences if not applied carefully. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Discrimination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discrimination/) [Gender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gender/) [Impact](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impact/) [Racism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/racism/) ## Related quotes > [Homosexuality is genetically hardwired but race and gender are only ideas. OK. Just trying to keep up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-goad/homosexuality-is-genetically-hardwired-but-race-and-gender-are-only/) [Jim Goad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-goad/) > [Capitalism knows only one color: that color is green; all else is necessarily subservient to it, hence, race, gender and ethnicity cannot be considered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/capitalism-knows-only-one-color-that-color-is-green-all-else-is/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [The modern campus is deeply obsessed by race and gender, and not much else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-leo/the-modern-campus-is-deeply-obsessed-by-race-and-gender-and-not-much/) [John Leo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-leo/) > [“Race, gender, religion, sexuality, we are all people and that's it. We're all people. We're all equal.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/connor-franta/race-gender-religion-sexuality-we-are-all-people-and-that-s-it-we-re/) [Connor Franta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/connor-franta/) > [Your race and gender don't change, but you can choose to change your political affiliation at will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-podhoretz/your-race-and-gender-don-t-change-but-you-can-choose-to-change-your/) [John Podhoretz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-podhoretz/) > [I think everyone is bi, right? There's no such thing as sexual orientation, or race, or gender. Those are all obsolete man-made concepts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-andre/i-think-everyone-is-bi-right-there-s-no-such-thing-as-sexual/) [Eric Andre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-andre/) > [Race and gender quotas, whether in publishing, the media, or scientific research labs, are becoming more extreme and more ineluctable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-mac-donald/race-and-gender-quotas-whether-in-publishing-the-media-or-scientific/) [Heather Mac Donald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-mac-donald/) > [To focus on what makes us different, whether that's race, gender or religion, rather than what we have in common, has never served to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslyn-lewis/to-focus-on-what-makes-us-different-whether-that-s-race-gender-or/) [Leslyn Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslyn-lewis/) > [A lot of people think that intersectionality is only about identity. But it's also about how race and gender are structured in particular workforces.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberle-williams-crenshaw/a-lot-of-people-think-that-intersectionality-is-only-about-identity/) [Kimberle Williams Crenshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberle-williams-crenshaw/) > [Choosing a Board of Directors based on race and gender is a lousy way to run a company.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-j-rodgers/choosing-a-board-of-directors-based-on-race-and-gender-is-a-lousy-way/) T. J. Rodgers > [“Sometimes it's not because of the race whether he/she is white or black. Sometimes it's not the gender whether she/he is a man or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/de-philosopher-dj-kyos/sometimes-it-s-not-because-of-the-race-whether-he-she-is-white-or/) De philosopher DJ Kyos > [We'll always be re-examining how we relate to each other in terms of race and gender, in terms of power and access.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-famuyiwa/we-ll-always-be-re-examining-how-we-relate-to-each-other-in-terms-of/) [Rick Famuyiwa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-famuyiwa/) > [If we move away from either/or thinking, and if we think, okay, every day of my life that I walk out of my house…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/if-we-move-away-from-either-or-thinking-and-if-we-think-okay-every/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [Equal pay is not yet equal. A woman makes $0.77 on a dollar and women of color make $0.67... We feel so passionately about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/equal-pay-is-not-yet-equal-a-woman-makes-0-77-on-a-dollar-and-women/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [I've not been discriminated against, but I can see it happen. And not just race but gender and sexuality, too. It's stereotyping, lazy casting,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgina-campbell/i-ve-not-been-discriminated-against-but-i-can-see-it-happen-and-not/) [Georgina Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgina-campbell/) ## More by Meena Harris > [The name Phenomenal Woman was inspired by Maya Angelo, who wrote 'Phenomenal Woman', a favorite poem of mine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meena-harris/the-name-phenomenal-woman-was-inspired-by-maya-angelo-who-wrote/) [Meena Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meena-harris/) > [But when we're helping children understand how people from different walks of life can coexist, prioritizing common ground too often obscures or erases uncommon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meena-harris/but-when-we-re-helping-children-understand-how-people-from-different/) [Meena Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meena-harris/) > [At the most basic level, if men have institutional power, they have tremendous influence to change those institutions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meena-harris/at-the-most-basic-level-if-men-have-institutional-power-they-have/) [Meena Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meena-harris/) > [If I were to distill my household, it was a passion for social justice and a love for food and laughter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meena-harris/if-i-were-to-distill-my-household-it-was-a-passion-for-social-justice/) [Meena Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meena-harris/) > [Mara Hoffman makes flowy dresses, and a lot of her stuff is geared towards swimwear, like cover ups, but they work well as house…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meena-harris/mara-hoffman-makes-flowy-dresses-and-a-lot-of-her-stuff-is-geared/) [Meena Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meena-harris/) > [It's all too common that when we talk about diversity and inclusion, and gender equity in the workplace, it translates to just white women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meena-harris/it-s-all-too-common-that-when-we-talk-about-diversity-and-inclusion/) [Meena Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meena-harris/) > [We must continue to raise our voices until there is full accountability, including police reform, as well as justice for us all and not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meena-harris/we-must-continue-to-raise-our-voices-until-there-is-full/) [Meena Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meena-harris/) > [Men can be effective allies by making space and amplifying the voices of women around them. When each of us is an ally in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meena-harris/men-can-be-effective-allies-by-making-space-and-amplifying-the-voices/) [Meena Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meena-harris/) > [I was taught the value of everyday activism and showing up by my grandma, who wasn't a public official, but was a breast cancer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meena-harris/i-was-taught-the-value-of-everyday-activism-and-showing-up-by-my/) [Meena Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meena-harris/) > [It's a privilege to be able to take care of yourself and not have to be constantly on the treadmill.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meena-harris/it-s-a-privilege-to-be-able-to-take-care-of-yourself-and-not-have-to/) [Meena Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meena-harris/) > [I guess maybe my method is to take self-care where you can - even if it is something sort of small and it's not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meena-harris/i-guess-maybe-my-method-is-to-take-self-care-where-you-can-even-if-it/) [Meena Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meena-harris/) > [You have to train managers to encourage their teams to be entrepreneurial.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meena-harris/you-have-to-train-managers-to-encourage-their-teams-to-be/) [Meena Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meena-harris/) > [I grew up surrounded by these strong, brilliant women who showed me what it meant to show up in the world with purpose and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meena-harris/i-grew-up-surrounded-by-these-strong-brilliant-women-who-showed-me/) [Meena Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meena-harris/) > [Preventative measures should be taken to provide the fundamentals of recognizing and addressing sexual harassment. If all community members are required to undergo such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meena-harris/preventative-measures-should-be-taken-to-provide-the-fundamentals-of/) [Meena Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meena-harris/) > [Based on census data from 2019, black women are only paid 61 cents to every dollar that a white man makes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meena-harris/based-on-census-data-from-2019-black-women-are-only-paid-61-cents-to/) [Meena Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meena-harris/) [Explore all 58 Meena Harris quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meena-harris/) ## More Discrimination quotes > [There could be no more powerful argument against mixing religion and government than the success of independent African American churches in placing racial segregation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jacoby/there-could-be-no-more-powerful-argument-against-mixing-religion-and/) [Susan Jacoby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jacoby/) > [Jesus never said a word about homosexuality. In all of his teachings about multiple things - he never said that gay people should be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/jesus-never-said-a-word-about-homosexuality-in-all-of-his-teachings/) [Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/) > [In a general way, the literature of the twentieth century is essentially psychological; and psychology consists of describing states of the soul by displaying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-weil/in-a-general-way-the-literature-of-the-twentieth-century-is/) [Simone Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-weil/) > [“Mental illness is not something you misunderstand in this era. Get educated because bias is no different than racism.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/mental-illness-is-not-something-you-misunderstand-in-this-era-get/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > [I believe that those who promote discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or any other grounds are gravely mistaken about the values that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-clinton/i-believe-that-those-who-promote-discrimination-on-the-basis-of/) [Bill Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-clinton/) > [Each Act of Parliament intended to address harassment and discrimination has faced objections on the basis of 'you'll never be able to prove...' and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-field/each-act-of-parliament-intended-to-address-harassment-and/) [Tim Field](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-field/) > [Nothing better protects a human being against the stupidity of prejudice, racism, religious or political sectarianism, and exclusivist nationalism than this truth that invariably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-vargas-llosa/nothing-better-protects-a-human-being-against-the-stupidity-of/) [Mario Vargas Llosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-vargas-llosa/) > [It is obvious that discrimination exists. Women do not have the opportunities that men do. And women that do not conform to the system,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-chisholm/it-is-obvious-that-discrimination-exists-women-do-not-have-the/) [Shirley Chisholm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-chisholm/) > [The fact is that in too many parts of our country, we still have discrimination. And affirmative action is not just something that applies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/the-fact-is-that-in-too-many-parts-of-our-country-we-still-have/) [John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/) > [Judging someone by the color of their skin is ignorant. Their skin complexion has nothing to do with their morals, beliefs or intelligence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/judging-someone-by-the-color-of-their-skin-is-ignorant-their-skin/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We try to take a very strong stance against discrimination and hatred.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-blecharczyk/we-try-to-take-a-very-strong-stance-against-discrimination-and-hatred/) [Nathan Blecharczyk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-blecharczyk/) > [I resolutely believe that respect for diversity is a fundamental pillar in the eradication of racism, xenophobia and intolerance. There is no excuse for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rigoberta-menchu/i-resolutely-believe-that-respect-for-diversity-is-a-fundamental/) [Rigoberta Menchu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rigoberta-menchu/) > [End discrimination and hate everyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/candy/end-discrimination-and-hate-everyone/) [Candy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/candy/) > [This bill would allow an employee to bring a claim against an employer decades after the alleged initial act of discrimination occurred. Trial lawyers,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buck-mckeon/this-bill-would-allow-an-employee-to-bring-a-claim-against-an/) Buck McKeon > [Legal discrimination between the sexes is, in almost every instance, founded on outmoded views of society and the pre-scientific beliefs about psychology and physiology.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-chisholm/legal-discrimination-between-the-sexes-is-in-almost-every-instance/) [Shirley Chisholm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-chisholm/) [Browse all 1,366 Discrimination quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discrimination/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "This is the whole point of intersectionality - that it cannot only be a single-issue analysis of race and gender, and instead must consider the cumulative impact of various and simultaneous identities that compound the effects of discrimination.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Meena Harris" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meena-harris/this-is-the-whole-point-of-intersectionality-that-it-cannot-only-be-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Discrimination" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meena-harris/this-is-the-whole-point-of-intersectionality-that-it-cannot-only-be-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f60/meena-harris-11782_discrimination_this-is-the-whole-point-of-intersectiona_1535064.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f60/meena-harris-11782_discrimination_this-is-the-whole-point-of-intersectiona_1535064.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f60/meena-harris-11782_discrimination_this-is-the-whole-point-of-intersectiona_1535064.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“This is the whole point of intersectionality - that it cannot only be a single-issue analysis of race and…” — Meena Harris", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Meena Harris", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meena-harris/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "This is the whole point of...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meena-harris/this-is-the-whole-point-of-intersectionality-that-it-cannot-only-be-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meena-harris/this-is-the-whole-point-of-intersectionality-that-it-cannot-only-be-a/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```