Thoughts about intersectionality and risk. Interviews with key scholar

Abstract

Since the early twenty first century, feminist and intersectional approaches to risk research have gained momentum, initially emerging from studies on HIV risks within health studies. Over the past decade, these approaches have expanded to other fields. As editors of this special issue, Katarina Giritli Nygren and Anna Olofsson introduce a reflection piece anchoring the issue. The reflection piece includes insights from seven influential scholars in the intersectionality, equality, and risk fields: Lisa Bowleg, Dean Curran, Kelly Hannah Moffat, Claudia Mitchell, Lori Peek, Ignacio Rubio C., and Jens O. Zinn. Each scholar offers personal reflections on the development of intersectional analyses in risk research, highlighting key areas for future research. Three themes emerged: challenging risk as a neutral concept, addressing the complexity of risks in everyday life, and navigating between social structures and identity struggles. Contributors argue for contextualising risk within broader societal structures, embracing complexity, and understanding the intertwined nature of inequalities. Some, but not all, also advocate for intersectionality as a critical concept for studies of systemic change and equality. Overall, the reflections underscore the importance of centring intersectionality in understanding the dimensions of inequality and risk. The piece concludes by calling for further conversations and reflections to deepen our understanding of risk mobilisations and their links to inequality, both locally and globally. Such conversations can challenge assumptions and revitalize risk research, envisioning alternative worlds that prioritize equality.

Keywords:

• Risk research, intersectional theory, health risks, intersectional risk analysis, key scholars

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).