The concept of intersectionality increases the visibility of the inequalities and type of discrimination a certain group may face due to the varying characteristics and labels which dictate their lives (Slip, 2018).
Whilst seemingly a simple theory, ‘intersectionality’ is instrumental in highlighting power dynamics which are important for those working in the humanitarian field to recognise, especially in crisis situations where different individuals are given different levels of access to aid (Slip, 2018).
For example, in the immediate aftermath of the February 2023 earthquakes in Turkey/Syria, it was the Kurdish community, which has been sidelined and targeted throughout history because of their ethnic identity, whose region was left without aid for a prolonged period.
This burden was experienced tenfold by the women who were forced to give birth without assistance or appropriate supplies (Free Women’s Movement, 2023).
In this case, it was their ethnicity, locality of residence, and gender that put them at higher risk than the rest of the population, with intersectionality revealing the existing power dynamics at play.
Hannah Cassar holds a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Anthropology from the University of Malta, and is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Humanitarianism, Conflict, and Development at the University of Bath.
She is a Research and Policy Officer with the Malta Further and Higher Education Authority, and also a council member of the Malta Anthropological Society, where she focuses on promoting research and awareness about anthropology, facilitating discussions and events that engage the public in anthropological topics and foster a greater appreciation for the discipline.