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Abbie Bakan, University of Toronto
*Co-sponsored by the 

���˴�Ƭ the Lecture: “Intersectionality” has emerged as an influential perspective in feminist analysis. While the concept has multiple, and sometimes contested, points of origin, it is widely understood as an approach that links women’s and gender oppression to issues of race, class and power. Significantly, ‘intersectionality’ moved from being an approach grounded in critical race theory in the US to a global concept associated with human rights. This talk traces this important turning point. The 2001 UN World Conference Against Racism held in post-apartheid Durban, South Africa served as a pivotal arena. Based on results drawn from SSHRC-funded research, including interviews with civil society delegates and original documents, we trace how intersectionality went ‘global’ in the context of a world conference not commonly noted for its impact on feminist theory and practice.

���˴�Ƭ the Speaker: Abigail B. Bakan is Professor and Chair of the Department of Social Justice in Education (SJE) at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE), University of Toronto. Her publications include: Theorizing Anti-Racism: Linkages in Marxism and Critical Race Theories (co-edited, with Enakshi Dua); Negotiating Citizenship: Migrant Women in Canada and the Global System (with Daiva Stasiulis); Critical Political Studies: Debates and Dialogues from the Left (co-edited with Eleanor MacDonald); and Employment Equity Policy in Canada: an Interprovincial Comparison (with Audrey Kobayashi). With Yasmeen Abu-Laban, she currently writes on processes of human rights advances regarding race and gender in the context of UN world conferences. Her articles have appeared in Race and Class, Social Identities, Rethinking Marxism, Politikon, Socialist Studies, Atlantis, Signs, Canadian Journal of Law and Society and Studies in Political Economy. 

 Abbie Bakan Poster (PDF, 254KB)