Hillary Potter
Associate Professor Ethnic Studies, University Of Colorado Boulder
Key Findings
- Scholars should more readily utilize intersectional approaches in their criminological research.
Description
In the article, “Intersectional Criminology: Interrogating Identity and Power in Criminological Research Theory,” Potter examines the importance of using an intersectional lens in the legal system, especially when working with Black women who have experienced victimization or crime. The intersectional lens refers to factoring in the identities and experiences of an individual (such as race, sexuality, culture, religion, socioeconomic status, etc.) to understand behavior and perceptions. With this lens, the experiences of Black women can be mapped to their identities of being Black and female. While their experiences may sometimes relate more closely to one identity over the other, often they face the biases of both groups simultaneously. Potter notes that scholars should more readily utilize intersectional approaches in their criminological research as it forces them to understand the importance of the experiences of Black women.