The feminist perspective of intersectionality in the field of public health: a narrative review of the theoretical-methodological literature

Author(s)

Marcia Thereza Couto ^[1] ; Elda de Oliveira ^[2] ; Marco Antônio Alves Separavich ^[3] ; Olinda do Carmo Luiz ^[4]

Affiliation

^[1] Universidade de São Paulo. Departamento de Medicina Preventiva. Faculdade de Medicina - Brasil

^[2] Universidade de São Paulo. Faculdade de Medicina - Brasil

^[3] Universidade de São Paulo. Departamento de Medicina Preventiva. Faculdade de Medicina - Brasil

^[4] Universidade de São Paulo. Departamento de Medicina Preventiva. Faculdade de Medicina - Brasil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Salud Colectiva; v. 15, 2019-07-18.

Abstract

ABSTRACT The approach of intersectionality emerged in the late 1990s in the field of black feminist activism in the US, as a critique of one-dimensional analyses of social inequalities. This descriptive-analytical narrative review presents the current state of theoretical-methodological inclusion of intersectionality in public health. Seven scientific literature databases were consulted: Web of Science, Embase, Cinahl, Scopus, Sociological Abstracts, Lilacs, and Medline, resulting in 1763 papers. After duplicates were eliminated and the titles and abstracts screened, 30 papers produced in five countries between 2006 and 2017 were selected. The analysis, structured into three central themes (theoretical-methodological debates, social markers - gender, race, ethnicity and sexual orientation - and health policies and practices), shows intersectionality to be a promising analytical resource for understanding and facing the global challenge of inequalities in health. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 17/03572-6 - The perspective of intersectionality and the analysis of social markers in sociocultural processes of health-illness and care
• Grantee: Marcia Thereza Cavalcanti Couto
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research