Foreword

When I became editor of the Research in Social Movements, Conflicts and Change series back in 1999, I puzzled over the rather lengthy, tripartite series title. I soon came to learn, however, that with its focus not only on social movements but also on conflicts as well as on political and social change, the Research in Social Movements, Conflicts and Change series signals that approaching social and political problems and issues from multiple perspectives and traditions is core to its scholarly mission. In short, it is an important dimension of the RSMCC identity.

This series not only publishes work that is rooted in one or another of the literatures reflected in its title, but also targets work that crosses over and connects these interrelated but too often separate literatures. Thus, it is particularly fitting for us to publish this largely themed volume of rigorously peer-reviewed research that is focused on intersectionality analyses.

At the core of intersectionality is the notion that those spaces where our identities and affinities and interests and practices intersect are also where we can most usefully see awareness, knowledge and meaning being produced. Put too simply, intersectional analysis interrogates the intersections of our social and political lives. It is a burgeoning arena of scholarship that has seen dramatic developments in the past few years. Those new developments – clearly delineated in the helpful Introduction by volume editor Lynne M. Woehrle – actually gave rise to this volume. Professor Woehrle and her contributors have carefully built an important volume that not only reflects some of these new developments in intersectionality scholarship and analysis, but also opens new avenues to advance this significant area of study.

Patrick G. Coy

Series Editor, Research in Social Movements, Conflicts and Change

Professor and Director, Center for Applied Conflict Management

Kent State University