Understanding Intersectionality and Its Importance in Trauma Therapy: Exploring Beyonce's Cowboy Carter Album
Written by Evyan Roberts and Morgan Levine
With her country album Cowboy Carter, Beyonce has grabbed the attention of those who have defined country as a "white" genre. There have been, and continue to be, many negative reactions concerning black performers in country music; but as Beyonce has mentioned in Formation from her album, Lemonade, she stands at the intersection of various identities, "My daddy Alabama, momma Louisiana /You mix that negro with that Creole make a Texas ‘bama".
As Kimberlé Crenshaw originally defined intersectionality it is, "... a metaphor for understanding the ways that multiple forms of inequality or disadvantage sometimes compound themselves and create obstacles that often are not understood among conventional ways of thinking." With her album Cowboy Carter, Beyonce has brought another part of her identity into the conversation. Through the inclusion of another piece of her identity, we can better appreciate Beyonce as a whole, just as understanding our own intersectionality can help us explore ourselves through a lens that appreciates all parts of our identities.
In trauma therapy, we believe each person's experiences are necessary or functional in understanding the whole self. We are shaped by many things; childhood events, cultural background, ethnicity, neighborhoods in which we live in, our gender expression, skin color, sexuality, body size and shape. Even the stories and experiences passed down from ancestors impact how we interact with ourselves and the world around us. Intersectionality helps us understand the crossroads of who we are and how the twists and turns taken in life have impacted and affected the way they feel, think, and navigate their world.
As trauma therapists we keep in mind the impact of intersectionality as a way to understand that people have historically been treated less than or less important than others based on their race, nationality, religion, sexual orientation, etc – like colonialism, racism, homophobia, or Islamophobia. We acknowledge these parts of each individual's identity are also ingrained within histories and systems. The impact of living in social systems that are inherently biased creates deep wounds to the ego, which in turn alter how we see ourselves. For a group historically seen as “better", the ego can create a false superiority for some and in a group historically seen as "less than" can create a false inferiority or low self-worth.
Through Cowboy Carter, we not only learn about Beyonce, but we are also seeing the intersection of discrimination as a black woman entering a mostly white, male-dominated arena of music. The critical responses might as well say, “stay in this stereotypical space that we deemed acceptable based on our limited knowledge of you as a black woman in music and our knowledge of blackness in general”, as though she must be singular and what society has defined for her versus all parts of herself. This denial of her intersectionality and complexity is a form of internalized discrimination about what it “should” mean to be a black woman. Using the perspective of intersectionality like standing in the middle of a roadway, we can take notice of all the roads, avenues, and lanes that make up where (and who) we are regarding identity.
All these things – your experiences, your culture, your family history – they all affect your nervous system, which is like the driver, operating how you feel and react to things. So, when we, as therapists, help individuals heal from trauma, we don't only examine what happened to you. We acknowledge and look at where you come from, what systems you are currently navigating, and who you are, because all of those journeys matter.
By understanding intersectionality, we help understand all the roads and avenues that make you, you– and to put your experiences in perspective as part of a bigger picture.
So, if you ever feel like you're standing at a crossroads and feel unsure how or why you arrived or there, if you're all mixed up, or you're struggling with something, know that you make sense based on the systems you’ve lived and the experiences you've had. And that there are therapists available to help you navigate to find healing.
Authorship: This blog was written by Evyan Roberts, LMSW and Morgan Levine, LCSW. Evyan Roberts uses the lenses of intersectionality and trauma in her work with adults of all ages. She particularly enjoys working with persons of color, LGBTQIA+, and trauma survivors. Morgan Levine specializes in working with adults (18+) through the lens of neurodiversity and complex trauma. Her clients are people from across the lifespan and lived experiences who experience anxiety, depression, PTSD, ADHD, obsessions and compulsions, relationship issues, CPTSD, use of substances or people, attachment wounds, and specific trauma events.
*Disclaimer: The information in this blog is provided for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for mental health care nor a recommendation or endorsement for any particular treatment plan, organization, provider, professional service, or product. The information may change without notice. No claims, promises, or guarantees are made about the completeness, accuracy, currency, content or quality of information linked. You assume all responsibility and risk for any use of the information.
IFS EMDR Therapy Group is an outpatient therapy group founded by Morgan Levine. We specialize in helping adults struggling with the effects of living in dysfunctional systems move toward healing and wholeness. We provide therapy to address symptoms such as anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, grief, obsessive and compulsive thoughts and behaviors including but not limited to using work, perfectionism, substances, relationships, food, etc. We offer ongoing support as well as EMDR intensives; both of which are informed by IFS, EMDR, DBT, CBT, Polyvagal Theory, trauma-informed yoga, attachment, and other recovery principles. Our therapists work virtually with clients living throughout Maryland, Washington D.C., Virginia, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Colorado and Florida. Morgan Levine also provides trauma-informed consultation to therapists worldwide. Connect with us through our website at https://ifsemdrtherapy.com/contact-us.
