Complicating critical discussions in gender sexuality alliances: Youth desire for intersectional conversations and the experience of fragmentation

Abstract

Gender sexuality alliances (GSAs) represent consciousness-raisings that hold potential for critical consciousness development in youth. In this study, we focus on critical reflection—the understanding that oppression is structured and maintained by human action. We engage intersectionality as our analytical framework and analyze both student interview data (n = 38) and advisor closed-ended and open-ended survey data (n = 58) to examine: (1) the nature/content of critically reflective discussions in GSAs and (2) how advisors support critically reflective discussions in GSAs and their role in these discussions. Our findings suggest that (1) conversations centering race and its intersections with other socio-structural axes occur, albeit infrequently; (2) youth recognize and understand the concept of intersectionality in nuanced ways, desire to have critical intersectional conversations, and experience fragmentation from conversations around race, sexuality, and gender if they are situated at privileged locations on those axes; and (3) students want advisors to engage in critically reflective discussions in GSAs. The findings suggest that interventions and programming are needed that could cultivate advisors' and youth leaders' skills in facilitating intersectional dialogues for critical reflection among members.