Intersectionality and Gender in Archaeology

This chapter addresses the concept of “intersectionality” and its uses in archaeological analysis and practice. Intersectionality is broadly understood to encompass approaches that consider the complexity of human experience, particularly oppression and privilege, along multiple axes of identity simultaneously. Consistent with its development from Black feminism, much intersectional archaeological research has focused on race and gender in recent times; however, an increasing number of explicitly intersectional approaches are also addressing class, status, sexuality, age, dis/ability, and other aspects of identity. Intersectional investigation of the discipline is also growing, investigating the demographics of archaeology and knowledge production, and supporting social justice activism in academia.