Intersectionality and Wood Wide Web
Definition:
Intersectionality, as in a forest’s mycorrhizal network, refers to the interconnected and intertwined nature of social identities such as race, gender, and class. It’s the understanding that these aspects don’t exist in isolation but impact each other, much like trees in a forest network. Dominant identities or systemic powers, like towering trees, can influence resource distribution, highlighting systemic inequalities faced by marginalized or intersecting identities akin to smaller trees struggling for resources in the forest.
Short : In a forest, trees connect through a network of fungi, sharing resources and support. Each tree represents a facet of one’s identity, like race or gender. Just as trees are interconnected, aspects of one’s identity are intertwined and impact each other. Like systemic powers in society, the dominant trees can distribute resources unequally. Some trees struggle due to their position, symbolizing challenges faced by marginalized identities. Like the forest’s health depends on fair resource distribution, social justice requires addressing intersecting identities and ensuring equitable opportunities for all. In short, intersectionality emphasizes the complex, interconnected nature of social identities and the need to consider them collectively in the context of social inequality.
Long : In a forest, trees of various species are interconnected through a network of mycorrhizal fungi, often called the Wood Wide Web. These fungal networks enable trees to share resources, communicate, and support each other. Some trees, often the oldest and most established, are known as “hub trees” or “mother trees” as they are central to these networks, supporting many other trees and seedlings.
Now, imagine each tree in this forest represents a different facet of someone’s identity – race, gender, age, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, ability, etc. Each tree stands independently, but they’re also interconnected in a vast, complex system. This network, like the mycorrhizal fungal network, represents the concept of intersectionality.
Just as a tree doesn’t exist in isolation, the different aspects of one’s identity don’t exist separately – they’re interconnected and interdependent. When one tree is affected by disease or environmental changes, it impacts the other trees through the network. Similarly, when one aspect of a person’s identity is affected – by discrimination or privilege, for instance – it impacts the other parts of their identity.
The “mother trees” or “hub trees” might represent dominant identities or systemic powers in society, distributing resources unequally. A towering oak (representing white privilege) might absorb more sunlight (privileges) and share it selectively with its connected network, creating a hierarchy within the forest. Some trees may struggle to get enough resources due to their position in the network, symbolizing the systemic challenges faced by those with marginalized or intersecting identities.
Just as the health and resilience of the forest depend on the diversity and interconnection of its trees and the fair distribution of resources, the health and justice of society depend on recognizing and addressing the intersectionality of identities and ensuring equitable rights and opportunities for all.
To sum up, intersectionality, like the forest network, emphasizes the complexity, interconnectedness, and interdependence of various social categorizations and identities, acknowledging that they cannot be isolated in the context of social inequality and discrimination.
Positionality refers to the social and political context that creates your identity, such as in terms of race race, class, gender, sexuality and ability status [and language background].It includes how we identify and views our perspective and possible biases of society as well as how others see us. (CohenMiller and Brown, 2022 p.244) Victoria Odeniyi12:01CohenMiller, A., & Boivin, N. (2021). Questions in qualitative social justice research in multicultural contexts. Routledge.
Resources
Inspiration taken from The Hidden Life of Trees
https://www.katieholten.com/emergenceforest
https://emergencemagazine.org/feature/forest/
Wood wide web_ Trees’ social networks are mapped – BBC News
Video https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av-embeds/48257315/vpid/p07983hw