Intersectionality and interseccionalidad—the best of both worlds

Abstract

In this personal view paper, we contrast an early form of intersectionality within Latin American social medicine in the early 20th century to a form of identity-based intersectionality advanced in the USA in the latter half of the same century. The proponents of social medicine grasped and applied the principles of intersectionality from the 1930s onward, focusing on the influence of intersectional contextual factors on health. We distinguish this form of intersectionality as “interseccionalidad.” It foregrounds characteristics of oppressive systems or contexts and their effects on health. Although social medicine shares some similarities with social determinants of health, their approaches and interventions differ. Intersectionality and interseccionalidad both emphasize the role of power and oppressive systems, but systems dynamics are rarely discussed in the medical literature; therefore, we discuss systems change within healthcare and the health innovation ecosystem by using an established systems theoretic approach. Lastly, we give examples of and call for further development of ways to integrate the best of intersectionality and interseccionalidad in research and innovation.