Rethinking Social Divisions: Some Notes towards a Theoretical Framework

Abstract

This paper attempts to provide a framework for theorising the social divisions of gender, ethnicity and class in terms of parameters of differentiation and inequality which lie at the heart of 'the social'. The paper argues that there are common parameters to the social divisions of gender, ethnicity, 'race' (and class) in terms of categories of difference and positionality. The paper explores the distinctive ontological spaces or domains of gender and ethnos and argues that their study must be undertaken in local and specific contexts paying attention to their articulation.

The Intersections of Class, Gender, Sexuality and ‘Race’: The Political Economy of Gendered Violence

“…Constructions of race difference and othering as well as those of gender and sexuality operate to naturalise social relations and to build differential access to material resources (Anthias 1998).…”

“…racialised women). A position that I have developed with Nira Yuval Davis (Anthias and Yuval Davis 1992) is that social divisions refer to social ontologies around different material processes in social life, all linked to sociality and to the social organisation of sexuality, production and collective bonds (for further developments see Anthias 1998;2001a;2001b;2012;2013 a and b;Yuval Davis 2006). Not only does an intersectional framing at times look at processes of disadvantage emanating from the conjuncture between two or more different categorisations or identities such as those combining race and gender or race, class and poverty/unemployment/ exclusion (e.g.…”

“…In focusing on social divisions, as boundaries, hierarchies and ontological spaces (see Anthias 1998 in particular), and using the notion of translocational positionality (2002; 2008; 2009; 2013a), I have tried to work towards a complex recognition of hierarchical relations which has a wider theoretical resonance in terms of social stratification. A translocational lens is a tool for analysing positions and outcomes produced through the intersections of different social structures and processes, including transnational ones, giving importance to the broader social context and to temporality.…”

Epistemología, metodología y métodos. ¿Qué herramientas para qué feminismo? Reflexiones a partir del estudio del cuidado

“…A la que se define como "la que está estructurada, mediante la interacción de diversas localizaciones en relación con el género, la etnicidad y la clase (entre otras) y sus efectos, a veces contradictorios." (Anthias, 2002, p. 276, cursivas del original; ver también Anthias, 1998;2006;Muñoz Terrón, 2006). El género, el ethnos (etnicidad y «raza») y la clase pueden ser vistos como intersecciones y espa-2 Pues se limitan a sumar o multiplicar los ejes de división social y parecen olvidar que el resultado cruzado de las diferentes formas de subordinación es distinto de la mera adición o el producto (en sentido matemático) de cada una de ellas, en tanto que unas discriminaciones actúan sobre otras de diferentes modos.…”

Intersektionalität und feministische Politik

“…Dieser Aufsatz schuf eine Grundlage für den analytischen Rahmen, den wir in unserem gemeinsamen Buch Racialized Boundaries (Anthais/Yuval-Davis 1992) und in unseren danach entstandenen Einzelarbeiten weiterentwickelt haben (z.B. Anthias 1998;Yuval-Davis 1994;2006 (Harding 1994,229) Zwanzig Jahre später stellt sich das Bild zwar etwas anders dar, aber es herrscht immer noch große Verwirrung bezüglich dieser Fragen. Identitäten sind individuelle und kollektive Erzählungen, die auf die Frage antworten >wer bin ich/wer sind wir<?…”