A Critical Analysis of Intersectionality and Migration

Abstract

This chapter critically examines the application of intersectionality as a theoretical and empirical tool in migration research, emphasizing its potential to address the complexity of migration experiences. The text highlights the limitations of conventional frameworks in migration research, such as the “native-citizen” versus “migrant-other” dichotomy and reductive models like “push and pull factors,” which fail to capture the realities of migration processes. Drawing on intersectionality’s origins in Black feminist thought, the authors argue for its use as an analytical framework to explore intersecting systems of oppression—such as race, gender, class, and sexuality—and their impact on migrants’ lives. The chapter identifies key challenges in operationalizing intersectionality within migration research, including Western-centric biases, methodological ambiguities, and the mainstreaming of intersectionality as a buzzword. Furthermore, the chapter addresses critical gaps, such as the neglect of queer migration studies and the lack of decolonial sensitivity. By integrating intersectionality into migration research as a field of study, an analytical strategy, and a critical praxis, the authors propose a paradigm shift that moves beyond incremental knowledge to foster a holistic understanding of migration experiences. This approach aims to address how to dismantle structural systems of oppression while advancing epistemological and methodological rigor in the combined field of migration, gender, and sexuality.