Victim Blaming

Victim blaming is a social phenomenon in which responsibility for traumatic events is wrongly placed on the victim rather than the offender. This leads to psychological distancing, the rationalization of bystander inaction, and the creation of a defense mechanism against vulnerability (American Psychological Association Dictionary, 2018). In some cases of traumatic experiences, victim blaming wrongly […]

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Financial Literacy: a path to freedom and independence

Did you know only 18% of EU citizens have a high level of financial literacy? In this episode of The Intersectionality Lab podcast, we unpack what that really means—and why it matters for everyone. Financial literacy isn’t just about budgeting—it’s about making informed choices when opening bank accounts, taking out loans, investing, or avoiding scams. […]

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Benevolent Sexism

The theory of ambivalent sexism distinguishes between hostile sexism (HS) and benevolent sexism (BS) (Glick & Fiske, 1996). Benevolent sexism (BS) includes idealizing and flattering individuals who endorse traditional and conservative female gender roles (“saint” or “slut” ideology) (Glick & Fiske, 1996). It portrays female-identifying people as innocent, pure, caring and nurturing, fragile and in […]

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Sexism

Prejudice, stereotyping, or discrimination based on a person’s gender is understood as sexism. It is not limited to prejudice and discrimination against cis women by cis men. LGBTQIA+ people are targeted by sexism as well (Masequesmay, 2022). A more inclusive perspective on sexism is the discrimination, stereotyping, and prejudice that refers to the undermining and […]

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Emotional Abuse

Emotional abuse is a type of psychological violence that entails actions that are meant to hurt, control, or scare the targeted individual (National Domestic Violence Hotline, 2025). Compared to other forms of violence, emotional abuse can be harder to recognize as dangerous since it is usually quieter and more subtle. Often, it begins with words […]

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Internalized Sexism

Internalized sexism refers to the manifestation of sexist beliefs and practices that individuals, regardless of gender, may direct towards themselves or others (Bearman, 2009). These arise through the adoption of social gender norms and expectations into the individual’s thoughts, behavior, and self-perception (American Psychological Association, n.d.). From a lens of prejudices and stereotypes, internalized sexism […]

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Gender bias in AI: rethinking invisible norms

In this unfiltered episode, Inga is joined by Marianna, Muskaan, and Almina for an open, unscripted conversation that blends personal experiences, cultural observations, and critical reflection. Today’s topic: gender bias in AI, AI assistants, and the idea of digital domesticity. Why do so many virtual assistants default to women’s voices? What assumptions about care, service, […]

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Class Stratification

Class stratification is one of many systems of societal stratification that place people into ranks. Class stratification, or usually referred to as class systems, determines social ranks/classes based on one’s net worth (the amount of money and assets they own), power, education, and social status. Personal decisions, opportunities, and the class one is born into […]

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Transgender

Trans* is an umbrella term that encompasses a variety of identities that go beyond traditional gender norms. Transgender (or Trans*) describes individuals whose gender identity, gender expression, or typically associated gendered behavior does not align with the sex they were assigned at birth. Transitioning refers to the process in which a transgender person changes aspects […]

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AFAB/AMAB

AFAB (Assigned Female at Birth) and AMAB (Assigned Male at Birth) are acronyms referring to the gender binary that is imposed on persons at birth without their consent. These gender assignments are based on a binary interpretation of complex human biological and anatomical characteristics. Framing & Perspectives AFAB and AMAB are used to describe the […]

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Fourth Wave of Feminism

Framing & Perspectives The fourth wave of feminism began around 2012 and continues to the present day. This wave builds on the achievements of previous waves while addressing new and emerging issues faced by women in the 21st century (Munro, 2013). Characterized by its use of digital and social media, the fourth wave raises awareness […]

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Third Wave of Feminism

Framing & Perspectives The third wave of feminism began in the early 1990s as a response to the perceived shortcomings of the second wave, which focused on achieving legal and political equality (Evans, 1997; Freedman, 2002). Third-wave feminists aimed to challenge and expand upon second-wave ideas by addressing the intersectionality of race, class, and gender […]

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Second Wave of Feminism

Framing & Perspectives The second wave refers to a period of feminist activity that began in the United States in the early 1960s and lasted until the late 1980s. This wave of feminism was built on the earlier efforts of the first wave of feminism in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, which had […]

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First Wave Feminism

Framing & Perspectives The first wave refers to the period of feminist activity during the late 19th and early 20th century, primarily in the United States and the United Kingdom. The movement was predominantly focused on women’s suffrage, or the right to vote, and on achieving other political and legal rights for women (Evans, 1997). […]

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Overconsumption and the normalizations of excess

What if the things we’re told will make us happy are actually costing us more than we think? In this episode of the Intersectionality Lab podcast, Muskaan and Almina — joined by Hilal — unpack the culture of overconsumption and the powerful systems that keep it alive. From the constant churn of fast fashion to […]

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Hostile Sexism

The theory of ambivalent sexism distinguishes between hostile sexism (HS) and benevolent sexism (BS) (Glick & Fiske, 1996). Hostile sexism refers to the attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors that are openly hostile toward a group of people based on their sex or gender (Dictionary.com, n.d.). In general, hostile sexism aligns with classical prejudice definitions, such as […]

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Acronym “LGBTQIAPN+”

LGBTQIAPN+ is an acronym that refers to a wide range of sexual and gender diversity. Like individuals, the LGBTQ+ acronyms and definitions are constantly growing and changing. Its growth is expressive of the increasing inclusivity of the variance of gender, sexuality, and individual and collective experiences. Framing & Perspectives Here are some common terms:  L […]

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Bropropriating

Bropropriating, or bropropriation, is when a woman has an idea that is later appropriated by a man. Perhaps the woman speaks in a meeting and is ignored, only for her ideas to be stolen and credited to a man. The term ‘hepeating’ is also accepted to describe this behavior (Webber, 2024). The term draws attention […]

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Waves of Classical Feminism

The first wave (late 19th and early 20th centuries) primarily sought legal rights like women’s suffrage (Evans, 1997). The second wave, from the 1960s to the 1980s, expanded to issues like workplace equality and reproductive rights (Freedman, 2002). The third wave, beginning in the 1990s, emphasized individualism and diversity (Baumgardner & Richards, 2000), while the […]

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“Toxic femininity”: is it empowering, misleading, or something in between?

What is “toxic femininity” — and is the term empowering, misleading, or something in between? In this unfiltered episode of The Intersectionality Lab, host Almina is joined by Muskaan, Gillian, and Ana Catarina for a bold, nuanced conversation about one of today’s most debated gender concepts. Together, they unpack the origins of toxic femininity, the […]

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Classical Feminisms

Feminism is a social, political, and ideological movement that seeks to advance the rights and status of all individuals by challenging and dismantling systems of patriarchy and gender inequality. It advocates for equal opportunities, rights, and representation for everyone, regardless of one’s gender identity, in all areas of life, including political, economic, and social spheres. […]

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Trigger

A trigger in psychological understanding is an event, situation, or impulse that activates a traumatic memory that can lead to a chain of reactions with strong emotions (e.g., fear, shock, anger) or even a physical reaction (e.g., nausea, sweating, trembling, physical pain, freezing in motion, etc.) (Trigger – Cambridge Dictionary, n.d.; APA, 2018). This entry […]

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“Toxic” Masculinity: harmful masculine ideals

In this episode of the Intersectionality Lab Podcast, host Almina sits down with scientist and gender equality activist David Almeida to unpack the roots and realities of toxic masculinity. Together, they explore how rigid ideas of manhood shape everything from childhood socialization to workplace culture — and why these norms continue to limit people of […]

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Representation

Representation refers to how individuals, groups, and identities are included, recognized, and depicted across various social, cultural, and political contexts. This concept extends beyond just visibility; it also encompasses how these individuals and groups are portrayed. Superficial representation can often reinforce false stereotypes rather than challenge them (Nadal, 2021). This entry includes references to symbolic […]

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Queer Svit: a response to when systems fail

In today’s episode, we spotlight the fearless, community-driven work of Queer Svit — a Black queer-led, independent volunteer network standing at the frontlines of crisis response for LGBTQ+ people, people of color, and Indigenous communities across Ukraine, Russia, Belarus, and throughout Eastern Europe and Central Asia. For decades, war, displacement, and political persecution have disproportionately […]

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Consensual Pornography

Pornography is the (consensual) creation of graphic, auditory, or written content, meant to be sexually arousing. It can present bodies in a sexual manner, sexual interactions, arousing noises/voices, and sexual descriptions of bodies and acts, which are made for public consumption (Sullivan, 2015). In the production of pornography, consent means informed and voluntary participation, fair […]

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