The Importance of Intersectionality in Research

In late September 2022, a vibrant email conversation took off across the Belong in Plymouth network. The topic? Intersectionality—and how to embed it into every part of our community research.

Jade Ward raised the first question: “How are we making space for the intersectionality that we know exists? Are we doing enough to make people feel their experience is valued, whatever their background or identity?”

Cathy McCabe added a note of caution: “It’s tempting to skip over the complexity, to treat people’s stories as neat case studies. But real life doesn’t work that way.” The group agreed that it wasn’t just about collecting stories—it was about creating structures that reflect the diversity of those stories.

Stuart Jones chimed in with a practical insight: “We need to be aware of the lens we’re using. If we only talk to people already involved in the system, we risk reinforcing its blind spots.”

That thread sparked a wider review of the way Belong in Plymouth frames questions, collects demographic information, and codes insights. It also prompted a broader reflection: what does it mean to hold space for someone, rather than speak for them?

There were no easy answers. But what made the conversation powerful was its openness. People weren’t trying to win debates—they were trying to learn from each other.

In a city like Plymouth, where experiences of race, disability, gender, and class intersect in complicated ways, this kind of learning isn’t optional—it’s essential. As Jade put it: “If we want to understand belonging, we have to understand all the layers that shape it.”