Abstract

The notion of intersectionality has become so commonplace within many disciplines that it sometimes seems overloaded and imprecise as a concept (Davis, 2008). Yet it is a useful, shorthand heuristic that allows researchers to focus on important aspects of their analyses without having to discover them from first principles. Heuristic is not, however, counterposed to theory and many people have spent a great deal of time and energy theorizing intersectionality. This paper starts by discussing the ways in which intersectionality functions as a shortcut to social understanding for both research participants and researchers. It then considers some of the key features of theoretical debate and dispute about intersectionality before showing some of the ways in which intersectionality can fruitfully be applied in a range of research.