Competing concepts of intersectionality: Operationalising intersectionality in equality policy and practice

This paper compares and contrasts two separate studies of conceptualisations and operationalisations of intersectionality, one in the equality policy and NGO sector in England and Scotland, and the other in domestic abuse policy-making in Scotland. Drawing upon Christoffersen’s (2021) framework to analyse the ways that intersectionality is institutionalised in policy and practice, this paper identifies that ‘intersectionality’ is understood and used in five contradicting ways in UK equality organising and policy, some of which advance intersectional justice while others serve to further entrench inequalities. These five concepts are ‘generic intersectionality’; ‘pan-equality intersectionality’; ‘multi-strand intersectionality’; ‘diversity within’; and ‘intersections of equality strands’. For those holding additive ‘diversity within’ concepts of intersectionality, one inequality is considered to be primary: more important than others. This was found to be the most prevalent concept of intersectionality in the women’s sector in England and Scotland. In Scottish domestic abuse policy-making, national ‘mainstream’ women’s organisations and policymakers have similarly applied ‘diversity within’ intersectionality: this is evidenced by the prevalence of a gendered and single-axis framing. Intersectional organisations, including Black and minority ethnic women’s organisations apply ‘intersections of equality strands’ but they do not have the same power or influence in framing national policy. These two studies are illustrative of the contestations and debates that arise when attempting to embed an intersectional approach in policy and practice. By juxtaposing the findings from the two studies, this paper highlights key lessons and engages with the ‘big questions’ in social policy and gender politics concerning how to successfully operationalise intersectionality in policy and practice. It argues that how intersectionality is conceptualised by the women’s sector is important as women’s organisations are key actors in influencing how intersectionality is applied in equality policy, which in turn, directly impacts the embodied lives of intersectionally marginalised women and children.