Dynamics Racial Gender & Sexual Identities

This scenario allows you to incorporate the concept of intersectionality as you consider the identities of each participant in this case study.

It takes place at work among a group of fellow employees. As part of this case study, we will take a look at the interaction between a few employees and how these interactions reflect, challenge, or complicate their intersectional identities. To help assess the situation, you will write a response where you consider the approach to take when the behavior of some employees is deemed inappropriate by another employee. What is the importance of each person’s multiple identities in this situation?

SCENARIO:

You are an employee who overhears conversations among your coworkers. While on break, two male coworkers, Robert and Henry, usually go outside by themselves to talk and smoke a cigarette. Robert is African-American and Henry is Hispanic. One day, Shirley is also outside and overhears bits and pieces of their conversation. Shirley, who is a white woman, is concerned that they regularly have conversations that are inappropriate for the workplace. She says that she overheard these coworkers making crude sexual references about women, sharing images and graphics of a sexist nature on their cell phones.

The matter is brought to the attention of their supervisor, Allen, who is white and male. Allen is also gay. Allen tells Robert and Henry that he is concerned about a potential gender bias in the workplace that makes gender and sexual minorities feel unsafe.

Robert makes a comment to Allen that their conversation was private and that Shirley was not invited into the conversation. He further states that white women are always inserting themselves into other people’s business. He feels that he and Henry are being called out on their behavior because they hold lower paid jobs in the organization.