Theory for the People: Making Intersectional Feminism Accessible
By Archit Mathur
GSWS 314 – Race, Class & Gender | Blog Article
Why Intersectional Feminism Needs to Reach Beyond the Classroom
Intersectional feminism is powerful—it gives us the tools to understand how systems of race, gender, class, and colonialism intersect to shape people’s lives. But for many outside academic circles, the language and theory behind it can feel overwhelming, disconnected, or even elitist.
As someone navigating life as an immigrant and a racialized person, I’ve learned that theory becomes truly transformative only when it’s made relatable and accessible. In GSWS 314, we’ve explored creative and grounded ways to make complex theoretical frameworks, like intersectionality or border imperialism, easier to engage with for everyone—not just scholars. Here’s how.Start with Stories, Not Definitions
People connect more with human stories than with textbook definitions. During our in-class activity in Week 9, we simulated being border agents and migrants using coloured cards to decide who was allowed to “enter” or be excluded. It was a powerful way to feel what Harsha Walia (2013) calls border imperialism—a system that controls and criminalizes migration while ignoring the violent histories of displacement that force people to move in the first place.
That simple, emotional exercise taught us more than a paragraph of theory could. The strategy here is clear: ground abstract concepts in lived experience. Personal narratives make complex ideas human, especially when exploring how identity impacts opportunity and oppression.
Use Everyday Language with Real-World Examples
A big barrier to understanding feminist theory is academic jargon. In class, we’ve read about “racialized citizenship,” “settler colonialism,” and “state-mediated labour exploitation.” These are important concepts—but without context, they can push people away.
Guest speakers like Erie from Migrante BC helped make these ideas real. She spoke about the Canadian care worker program and how it places Filipina women in long-term but unstable jobs with no pathway to citizenship. She didn’t call it “state-mediated labour control,”—but that’s exactly what it was (Migrante BC, 2025). Her plain language brought clarity and urgency to the issue.
The lesson? We don’t have to simplify ideas—we just have to say them clearly, using language rooted in community and everyday experience.
Let Multimedia Tell the Story
People learn differently. Some read, some watch, some listen, and some experience. That’s why our group project, Our Stories, Our Voices, uses a blog, podcast, video, and mini-essay to explain the intersections of race, class, and gender in our lives. Each format connects with a different audience.
This strategy mirrors what we saw in class with Steff’s zine on Palestine organizing or the SFU labour walking tour. Zines, photos, maps, and video presentations helped bring feminist and anti-colonial theories to life by making them visual and interactive.
Multimedia tools break down barriers—and help audiences connect emotionally, not just intellectually.
Show Organizing in Action
Theory becomes powerful when it fuels real-world action. Iris Morales, a member of the Young Lords Party and a long-time organizer, didn’t just explain feminism—she lived it. Her reflections showed how intersectional struggles around race, gender, and class were tackled through direct community organizing, like food programs and clinics (Morales, 2023).
This strategy matters: show what the theory looks like in practice. When people see how organizing challenges inequality—not just explains it—they are more likely to understand and apply it themselves.
Conclusion: Making Theory a Collective Tool
Intersectional feminism is not just for academics. It’s for workers, migrants, parents, students, and anyone trying to survive unjust systems. The strategies we’ve explored—storytelling, plain language, multimedia, and real-life organizing—help make feminist theory inclusive and relevant.
Theory doesn’t have to be intimidating. When we make it feel lived, spoken, and collective, it becomes what it was always meant to be: a tool for liberation.
References
Migrante BC. (2025). Class presentation on migrant worker organizing. GSWS 314: Race, Class, and Gender.
Morales, I. (2023). Revisiting Herstories: The Young Lords Party. Part 1 & 2.
Walia, H. (2013). Undoing Border Imperialism. AK Press.
SWAN Vancouver. (2019). Supporting Immigrant and Migrant Women in the Sex Industry. In E. Mackenzie & K. Ham (Eds.), Sex Work Activism in Canada (pp. 104–117). ARP Books.
Jean, S. (2021). Imperialism & Policing Asian Women’s Sexuality. The Media Co-op.
