What are effective strategies to address intersectionality in human services?
Intersectionality is the concept that people experience multiple and overlapping forms of oppression and discrimination based on their identities, such as race, gender, class, sexuality, disability, and more. In human services, intersectionality is a crucial lens to understand the needs, challenges, and strengths of diverse clients and communities. However, addressing intersectionality in human services is not easy. It requires awareness, sensitivity, and action from both service providers and service users. Here are some effective strategies to address intersectionality in human services.
-
Develop a cultural plan:Create a visual map of your team's diverse identities in collaboration with HR to recognize existing supports and gaps. This paves the way for tailored, inclusive policies and practices.
-
Empathetic learning:Actively seek out and value different perspectives, particularly from people with varied intersectional identities. This enhances service delivery by ensuring it is sensitive to the nuanced needs of all clients.