Identity & Activism: Helping Educators Understand Intersectionality & Cultivate Intersectional Acceptance Through Young Adult Literature

Abstract

The issue I address is intersectionality in K-12 education. To address this issue, the purpose of this paper is to identify intersectionality, explore ways to help educators understand and accept intersectionality, and then bring the new knowledge into their classrooms. This will be done by the creation of a continuing education course using Young-Adult and Middle-Grade literature and appropriate supplemental materials on identity, activism, and intersectionality. The primary goals are to eliminate a color-blind approach to teaching and to showcase rich diverse texts that educators can learn from and bring into their classrooms.