Intersectionality as researchers’ and participants’ resource: A commentary on the contributions to the Special Issue

Abstract

The aim of this commentary is to relate the papers contributing to this special issue to the broader directions and orientations of psychological research on intersectionality.  It is argued that, in common with existing psychological research, the contributions to the current issue either explore how social actors stereotype others in light of their intersecting social identities or focus on the potential psychological and social implications of holding intersecting subordinate identities (including gender). It is also maintained that while intersectionality has mainly constituted the researcher’s concern and analytic lens, a future research agenda, as it is indicated by some of the contributions, should involve the study of intersectionality as participants’ concern and resource and the investigation of the (proximal and distal) implications of its use in different social and rhetorical contexts.