Intersectionality and Social Justice: New Challenges, New Directions
Location TBA
Event details
Please note the current date for this event is provisional and not finalised
About the Symposium
The School for Business and Society and the Centre for Women's Enterprise, Leadership, Economy & Diversity (WE-LEAD) at the University of York are delighted to host a one-day interdisciplinary symposium exploring new challenges and directions in intersectional thought and practice.
Originally developed by Kimberlé Crenshaw, intersectionality has become one of the most influential frameworks for understanding how multiple dimensions of identity and systems of power shape experiences of inequality, exclusion, privilege, and belonging. Today, intersectional approaches inform research, policy, teaching, activism, and organisational practice across a wide range of disciplines and sectors.
Why Now?
Contemporary debates surrounding diversity, equity and inclusion, anti-racism, decolonisation, democratic participation, AI and algorithmic bias, and the politics of representation have created new opportunities and challenges for intersectional scholarship.
As inequalities evolve and new forms of exclusion emerge, there is an urgent need to critically examine how intersectional approaches can continue to advance social justice, inform policy and practice, and respond to changing social realities.
This symposium creates a space for scholars to engage with these questions collectively.
A Symposium for Emerging Scholars
The event is specifically designed to support doctoral researchers and early career academics. Alongside paper presentations, participants will have opportunities to:
- Share emerging research in a supportive environment
- Discuss methodological and theoretical challenges
- Receive feedback from peers and established scholars
- Build interdisciplinary networks and collaborations
- Explore opportunities for future publications and research partnerships
We welcome participants from all disciplines and methodological traditions.
Themes
Contributions may address topics including:
- Conceptual and methodological developments in intersectionality
- Race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, disability, and class
- Identity, belonging, and inclusion
- Intersectionality in organisations and workplaces
- Health, education, and social policy
- Activism, advocacy, and social justice
- Decolonial, feminist, and critical perspectives
- AI, technology, and algorithmic bias
- Teaching, learning, and applied intersectionality
Programme
The symposium will include:
- Research paper presentations
- Poster exhibition
- Roundtable discussions
- Keynote address
- Networking opportunities and mentoring conversations
Registration
Attendance is free, but registration is required.
Contact
Juliet Kele, Conference Organiser, University of York
For questions about submissions or attendance, please contact: Juliet.kele@york.ac.uk
Follow the event at #UoYIntersectionality
Beyond the Symposium
We see this symposium as the beginning of an ongoing conversation and interdisciplinary network of scholars committed to advancing intersectional research and social justice. Alongside showcasing current work, the event aims to create opportunities for future collaborations, publications, mentoring relationships, and research partnerships.
By bringing together doctoral researchers, early career academics, and established scholars, we hope to foster a supportive and intellectually vibrant community that continues beyond the symposium itself. Participants will be invited to explore opportunities for ongoing engagement, including collaborative projects, future events, and potential publication outputs arising from symposium discussions.
Join the event online: