Intersectionality is a framework for understanding how various social, cultural, and institutional factors such as race, gender, class, and sexual orientation intersect to create unique experiences of privilege or discrimination for individuals. Originally coined by Kimberlé Crenshaw in the context of feminist theory, the term has since been widely adopted across disciplines to analyze the complexities of identity and inequality. Rather than examining each factor in isolation, intersectionality looks at how these different elements interconnect to produce specific, and often compounding, forms of advantage or disadvantage. For example, a black woman may face discrimination that is distinct from the discrimination faced by a white woman or a black man, because her experiences are shaped by the intersection of both race and gender. The concept encourages a more nuanced approach to social justice, urging us to consider the multifaceted nature of identity and inequality in our interactions, policies, and institutions.