Identity and discrimination in the Work Place: An Intersectional, Legal History

Abstract

Intersectionality is a theory originating from Kimberlé Crenshaw in 1989. The theory focuses on, “the complex, cumulative way in which the effects of multiple forms of discrimination (such as racism, sexism, and classism) combine, overlap, or intersect especially in the experiences of marginalized individuals or groups.” This theory is used by feminist theorists to shed light on the plight of African-American women and women of other minority groups. The protection against such discrimination has been a recent development within only a few decades. This development has been fought in the office of lawmakers and in all the levels of the U.S. Courts of law. This article will analyze how the courts have dealt with such discriminatory cases,
how the law has transformed, and how opinions have been adjusted to uphold the spirit of the U.S. Constitution.