Sometimes You're a Caterpillar and Sometimes You're a Snail

Sometimes you’re and caterpillar and sometimes you’re a snail.

I know that sounds odd, but just watch this video above and you will know what I am talking about

(Sometimes You're a Caterpillar). Sometimes we have an advantage and sometimes we do not, and

it all has to do with the factors of ourselves that are working with or against us at any given point.

And it is not always just one factor, there could be multiple factors,

and that is what intersectionality is getting at.

Back to the snail.

At first glance the caterpillar only sees the snail as a snail. He does not think about what comes with being snail, but only the fact that he identifies as a snail. This same thing can happen to black women for example. They are seen as a women or an African American. Many times, these two identities are not combined into one, when in fact African American women are living life as both identities, and these identities contribute together to the quality of the African American woman’s life. Some people do not see how different identities and factors attributed to people can intersect and cause advantages or disadvantages in a person’s life, and we as teacher need to be sensitive to this.

Teaching Intersectionality 

The article on Teaching Intersectionality speaks to what I have said previously. I’ve thought of

intersectionality as something the teacher must be sensitive, but as this article also states it is

important to teach it to students as well. The article states,

“By emphasizing intersectionality, she equips her students with the skills to examine why they believe what they believe, why their beliefs might differ from others’ and to determine how their beliefs might be influenced by power and privilege.”

I found this particularly interesting because in order for students to advocate for themselves

they need to come to terms with their own identity as well. Many people see things in black and white and

do not see the overlapping grey areas. Intersectionality is all about seeing those grey areas.

Let’s talk about the caterpillar again. He only saw the snail as a snail. He did not consider what comes with being a snail until both the

caterpillar and snail talked about their differences and how those differences contribute to their way of life.

This discussion helped them come to an understanding and in my opinion become closer as friends.

These discussion should take place in the classroom in order for everyone to come an understanding.

It is very hard to teach and have meaningful discussions when students do not trust or understand

each other. Therefore intersectionality is not only a teaching method, but a lesson.