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Celebrating our intersectionality 

The identities of people with disabilities are never just about disability. Like everyone else, people with disabilities have many ties and affinities. These things are important to us and make us who we are.

A person with a disability may be:

  • Male, female, non-binary or gender-diverse.
  • From a particular social and economic background, like working-class or white-collar.  
  • Part of a family with a shared cultural background.
  • Many other things.

Seen from this perspective, intersections of identity make life rich and exciting. We can recognise what we share with others and how we differ.

You should be proud of who you are. If you've been misunderstood, speak up about it. You could say, "What happens to me is not the same as what happens to you. It's more like..."

What is intersectionality?

Imagine a woman who has a disability and a low income. Perhaps she lives below the poverty line. She might:

  • Encounter discrimination when she applies for jobs. Potential employers might incorrectly assume she can't do complex work because of her disability, resulting in low income.
  • Have disability-related expenses not covered by the NDIS. For example, she might have to pay for an assistive device or treatment out of her own pocket. Now, she has even less money to spend on clothes for job interviews, which could impact her likelihood of finding a good job.
  • Find support and encouragement from an online community of people with disabilities. Some of her online friends have experienced discrimination at work, too. It feels good to talk about shared experiences, and she gets ideas about how she could improve her situation.

Now imagine a woman who has a disability but a high income. Her experiences are likely similar in some ways to the woman above but not identical. Intersectionality helps us recognise how we overlap with others and how we are different. Even people who are part of the same community remain individuals. One of the things we share with others is our uniqueness!

Intersectionality and discrimination

Organisations and individuals aware of intersectionality can begin to see how people with one shared identity (e.g. a disability) may have different experiences of discrimination.The best way to do this is to listen.

We may become more:

  • Curious about other people's experiences
  • Compassionate about the struggles they face.
  • Aware of our privileges and challenges.
  • Able to recognise fairness and unfairness.
  • Empowered to advocate for ourselves and listen to others.

1800 RESPECT

If you experience violence or abuse you can contact 1800 RESPECT for support and counselling.
Call 1800 737 732 or go to the 1800 RESPECT website to chat with someone online (external link).

‍To contact 1800RESPECT via SMS, text ‘HELLO’ or any greeting to 0458 737 732 to start the conversation.

Story

Cal and her friend identify as LGBTQIA+. They love to go to the annual pride parade in their community. Cal has a disability that affects her mobility. At the pride parade, Cal quickly gets tired and needs to rest. She misses out on some of the activities that her non-disabled friend enjoys. However, another friend of Cal's who has a similar disability tells Cal about a place in the city where she can rest and recharge. After a break, Cal rejoins her friend at the pride parade.

Getting the most out of life

This section is about empowerment and wellbeing. Here, you can find information and tools to help you get the most out of life. You can learn about healthy relationships and setting boundaries. We also share ideas about how to cope when life is hard.

Find out more

International agreements about the rights of people with disability

This page explains two United Nations Conventions signed by Australia. Both impact us. One is an agreement about disability rights. The other is an agreement about women's rights.

Find out more

Resources.

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Intersectionality

People are never just one thing. We all belong to more than one community. Our identities overlap and impact one another. For example, a woman with disabilities belongs to at least two communities: the community of women and the community of people with disabilities. How can she cope with and celebrate the overlap of these two identities?

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