What are some possible benefits and drawbacks of using the concept of “intersectionality” to analyze literature? How might this concept help us better understand the themes or characters of a work?

Answer:

Intersectionalism is a sociological perspective by which the discrimination in a society is examined from a more broader perspective. The major advantage of this perspective is the fact that it leads to a more real analysis of the society as it exists. This is largely because of the fact that different parts of the identities of an individual play important roles in determining the kind of oppression that he or she may face in society. Gender, race, caste, class, sexual orientation might be some of the aspects of identites due to which people might be prone to racism and discrimination. When this perspective is used to analyze literature, then it leads to a more accurate analysis of the social situations that the characters might be facing. One of the possible drawbacks might be that this perspective can often narrow your view down sociologically and other techniques or perspectives of sociology might not be then given the weightage they deserve in the analysis of the characters.