13. Intersectionality

This chapter explores the methodological challenges and possibilities of applying intersectionality to the analysis of contemporary performance. It revisits Kimberlé Crenshaw’s foundational work in legal studies and critical race theory, particularly her focus on the structural discrimination faced by women of colour in the US legal system. The chapter reflects on how her contributions have influenced broader discussions of social identity, power, and exclusion, while also cautioning against the appropriation and dilution of intersectionality in Western European humanities contexts. Emphasising its relevance for theatre and performance studies, the chapter underscores intersectionality’s analytical value in confronting structural omissions related to race, identity, and representation. Drawing on feminist and critical race theorists such as Mari J. Matsuda and Anna Carastathis, it outlines practical strategies—including self-positioning, contextual analysis, and ‘asking the other question’—for integrating intersectionality into performance methodologies. The chapter concludes with an application of this approach to a performance analysis of Being Pink Ain’t Easy by Joana Tischkau, highlighting how intersectionality can help interrogate institutional aesthetics and the dynamics of power in performance production and reception.