TVETipedia Glossary

Intersectionality

Intersectionality refers to the way in which different forms of discrimination and disadvantage combine and overlap. Characteristics such as gender, age, disability, ethnicity, geography and socio-economic status can intersect with each other, causing multiple levels of disadvantage and marginalization.

Source:
UNESCO, Glossary: understanding concepts around gender equality and inclusion in education, tool 1, 2022
UNESCO, Glossary: understanding concepts around gender equality and inclusion in education, tool 1, 2022
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Gender parity, equity, mainstreaming, empowerment, inclusion. These are some of the many terms and concepts that we encounter, use and read about in our daily work on gender equality and inclusion in education. This tool offers a basic reference guide to the fundamental terminology around gender equality and inclusion in education, listed in alphabetical order, not in a particular order of importance. This is an initial list and a living document open to your input. Note that terminology may change as understanding of gender develops.

The interconnected nature of all social categorisations – when considering the needs of all learners (Nadan and Korbin, 2018).

According to the OECD, ‘the extent and degree of intersectionality of different forms of diversity with SEN (special educational needs) are not only restricted to binary interrelations; rather, various forms can coexist and interact’ (Brussino, 2020, p. 20).

These forms of diversity can include, for example: ‘gender, remoteness, wealth, disability, ethnicity, language, migration, displacement, incarceration, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, religion and other beliefs and attitudes’ (UNESCO, 2020a, p. 4) or ‘national minorities and Indigenous peoples, and giftedness’ (2020, p. 63).

Source:
European Agency for Special Needs and Inclusive Education, European Agency for Special Needs and Inclusive Education Glossary, n.d.
European Agency for Special Needs and Inclusive Education, European Agency for Special Needs and Inclusive Education Glossary, n.d.
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This glossary is a collection of terms and their operational definitions as they were used in a variety of activities of the European Agency. You can use the filter to search and select the terms you want to see based on their place in the alphabet or the activities that they are related to.