Intersectional Humanities
Intersectionality helps understand the complex outcomes “when multiple axes of differentiation- economic, political, cultural, psychic, subjective and experiential- intersect in historically specific contexts” (Brah and Phoenix 2004).
As one of the first decolonized countries in the world (1922), the Republic of Ireland brings a specific context to intersectional identity politics. Intersectional Humanities is an interdisciplinary field of study that examines the connections between various social identities and experiences, such as race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, class, and disability, and how they shape individuals’ opportunities. It seeks to understand how different forms of oppression and privilege intersect and interact with one another, and how they influence social structures, power dynamics, and cultural productions. Intersectional humanities often draws on theories and methodologies from disciplines such as media studies, history, literature, philosophy, and cultural studies to analyse and critique systems of inequality and to promote social justice.
The Intersectional Humanities Research Strength in AHI at Maynooth University brings together leading European scholars whose research addresses key contemporary issues of intersectional experience, politics, and justice from contemporary and historical perspectives. Jeneen Naji’s practice-based research focuses on the cultural politics of gender, race and identity in creative digital media, examining how these are negotiated and represented in the public sphere. Gavan Titley’s acclaimed research explores media, multiculturalism, and the politics of racism, with a particular emphasis on how public debates around racism and migration shape understandings of diversity in the public sphere. Rita Sakr’s research investigates refugee language, displacement, and postcolonialism, looking at how literature and culture respond to global crises and humanitarian issues. Anne O’Brien analyses gender and labour dynamics in media production, uncovering how systemic inequalities are perpetuated within media industries. Jennifer Redmond’s historical studies focus on Irish women’s experiences with migration, education, and labour in the 20th century. Liam Mac Amhlaigh brings contemporary Irish-language literature to the fore, exploring the intersections of politics and language in Irish writing, especially poetry of the 20th century. Anna Hickey-Moody’s research adds an interdisciplinary approach to this mix, focusing on memory, migration, religion, diaspora and the environmental politics of community, particularly through her ethnographic work in Australia and England. Together, these scholars contribute to a dynamic and multifaceted exploration of intersectionality, examining how race, gender, language, and media intersect to shape contemporary global and local challenges.
In 2023, Maynooth hosted the first series of public lectures exploring Intersectional Humanities from various disciplinary perspectives. Distinguished speakers included Avtar Brah, Ghassan Hage, Kimberly Campanello, Marissa Willcox, Rachel McArdle, Tapasya Narang and others. In 2024, it hosted an international conference on Intersectional Materialisms. The Strength is home to the Senior Academic Leadership Ireland named chair in Intersectional Humanities, and is known for global leadership in this conceptual space. The Intersectional Humanities Strength runs an annual international summer school, to find out more or to enrol email: [email protected]