What is intersectional oppression? 

It's not uncommon for people to hold more than one marginalized identity. As humans, we are continually navigating the (often) uncomfortable challenges of those overlapping experiences.  Intersectional oppression occurs when different axes of oppression merge, such as race and gender, age and gender, and incarceration history, and race. We commonly see discrimination based on:

• Race (furthermore, colorism within race)

• Gender (extends to gender presentation/transphobia)

• Sexual Orientation

• Age

• Ability

• Beauty

• Socioeconomic Status/Class

• Immigration Status

• Ethnicity

• Religion

• Culture

• Incarceration History

• Educational Background

• Work History

• Body shaming

• Neurotypicity & Mental Health

How does intersectional oppression/privilege affect the wine industry?

• Urban displacement in major wine centers such as the Bay Area and New York City creates a less diverse workforce as it impacts lower-income people, especially BIPOC.

• Women over 40 have a more difficult time finding employment and job advancement. 

• Lesbians are dismissed and excluded by heterosexual, cisgender men. 

• Young, White people are hired for positions without having as much experience or competency as other job candidates.
  

Acknowledging the intersectional systemic and cultural barriers that have contributed to an individual's ongoing oppression is critical; if we're unable to recognize our peers' layered identities, we'll never be able to do the necessary work to fully support them.