Society and individuals have been slow to incorporate intersectionality as a concept and as a framework for informing our work, which limits the potential impact of theory, praxis and activism. In this talk, I will review intersectional theory and praxis, examine resistance to fully incorporating intersectionality, and highlight ways we must shift to be truly intersectional. Finally, I will issue a call to resist the tendency to dilute and depoliticize intersectionality theory and disconnect from its social justice framework.
| Bio:
NiCole T. Buchanan, Ph.D. is a Professor in the Department of Psychology at Michigan State University. Her research examines how race, gender, and victimization relate to well-being and how organizations can utilize workplace best practices to reduce bias and create healthy work environments where all employees thrive. She is a Fellow of the Association for Psychological Science, four separate divisions of the American Psychological Association, and has been the recipient of several awards for her contributions to the field. Dr. Buchanan is also the Clinical Director and Founder of Alliance Psychological Associates, PLLC in East Lansing, MI. Her clinical work focuses on healing from gender- and race-based trauma and victimization, thriving in difficult work environments, assertiveness training, and personal empowerment. Finally, Dr. Buchanan offers trainings on implicit bias, microaggressions, and improving dialogue and diversity-related climate for medical personnel, academic units, business leaders, and police departments. Videos of her TEDxMSU talk and other professional presentations are available online.
| Related readings:
Buchanan, N. T. & Wiklund, L. O. (2021). Intersectionality Research in Psychological Science: Resisting the Tendency to Disconnect, Dilute, and Depoliticize. Research on Child and Adolescent Psychopathology, 49, 25-31.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10802-020-00748-y
Settles, I. H., Warner, L., Buchanan, N. T., & Jones, M. K. (2020). Understanding Psychology’s Resistance to Intersectionality Theory using a Framework of Invisibility and Epistemic Exclusion. Journal of Social Issues, 76(4), 769-813.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/josi.12403
Buchanan, N. T. (2020). Salient circles diagrams: Making intersectional identities, privilege, power, and marginalization visible. Women & Therapy, 34(3-4), 400-404.
https://doi.org/10.1080/02703149.2020.1729468
Buchanan, N. T., Rios, D., & Case, K. A. (2020). Intersectional cultural humility: Critical inquiry and praxis in psychology. Women & Therapy, 34(3-4), 235-243.
https://doi.org/10.1080/02703149.2020.1729469
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