“Women know how to get things done”: narrative of an intersectional movement

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore how African-American women, both individually and collectively, were subjected to both racism and sexism when participating within civil rights organizations.

Design/methodology/approach

Because of the intersection of their identities as both African and American women, their experiences participating and organizing within multiple movements were shaped by racism and patriarchy that left them outside of the realm of leadership.

Findings

A discussion on the importance of teaching social studies through an intersectional lens that personifies individuals and communities traditionally silenced within the social studies curriculum follows.

Originality/value

The aim is to teach students to adopt a more inclusive and complex view of the world.

Citation

Vickery, A.E. (2017), "“Women know how to get things done”: narrative of an intersectional movement", Social Studies Research and Practice, Vol. 12 No. 1, pp. 31-41. https://doi.org/10.1108/SSRP-03-2017-0004