A Contextualised Intersectional Approach to Inequality in STEM work - A Review and Research Agenda

Abstract

While intersectionality traditionally examines the interlocking nature of social identities and systems of oppression, it also functions as a framework deeply embedded in multiple forms of context (Mollet & Faria, 2018; Bastia et al., 2023). This review highlights four interconnected contexts—spatial, temporal, institutional, and epistemological—central to understanding inequalities in STEM workplaces. These contexts often overlap, shaping and reshaping power relations, identities, and experiences of inequality. By integrating these dynamic dimensions, ‘contextualized intersectionality’ illuminates how power and identity are mutually shaped within specific settings, moving beyond static analyses. This approach aligns with the relational nature of intersectionality, offering a nuanced lens to analyze privilege and oppression in STEM.