Intersectional Solidarity: A Path to Resilient DEI in Supportive and Adversarial Contexts

Abstract

In the face of rising anti-DEI rhetoric and backlash in some countries and push for progress in others, organizations and policymakers must embrace intersectional solidarity as a foundational principle for advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion. This paper examines intersectionality at multiple levels, including individual identity and institutional contexts, structures, cultures, and processes. Mobilizing intersectional solidarity interventions ensures that DEI initiatives address the interconnected and overlapping systems of oppression, while solidarity fosters resilience and collective action to counter resistance. We provide a differentiated agenda for building intersectional solidarity in supportive and adversarial contexts of DEI.