Reading from rural and urban peripheries- intersectional explorations of spatial inequalities

Current initiatives in intersectionality theory relating to indigenous studies (Olsen 2018) as well as ethnic studies (Carlsson 2020) argue that the starting point for such intersectional approaches are ‘the margins rather than the centre’ (Olsen 2018). This is especially important progress in the Nordic context for furthering a decolonial research agenda. The intersectionality debate is currently attentive to the travelling of the concept of intersectionality itself as a means for multiple critiques to be contextualized and addressed within feminist theory (see e.g. Salem 2016; de los Reyes & Mulinari 2020). The aim is to explore what it means to claim central and peripheral positions in such a debate as well as what analytical openings and pathways linked to processes of peripheralization can occur within intersectionality theory when the travelling of the concept is brought to the fore (c.f. Ilmonen 2020).

We want to use the panel to pick up on this spatial dimension of the conceptual debate and discuss what it means to read the intersectionality debate from different peripheries in order to illuminate similarities between peripheralization processes in different geographic contexts, as rural areas and urban outskirts experience similar effects of centralization. Such articulations of a connectivity between peripheries can help make visible the ways in which peripheralized experiences and knowledge can create collective processes to address persistent inequity. Here, the concepts of peripheralization and intersectionality cross- fertilize (c.f Sjöstedt, Giritli-Nygren & Fotaki 2021). We believe that this conceptual development will serve both peripheralization and intersectionality theory in mobilizing its political grounding of aiming at changing oppressive relations in societies (see Nash 2019).

Wishing to contribute to the formation of hopeful futures the panel encourages the development of concepts of solidarity as part of feminist ethics, while providing an opportunity to reflect on ways forward for feminist intersectional studies. This will serve the agenda for decolonial feminist strategies sensitive to the Nordic context, which is currently seen as crucial for ‘coalition-building against multiple oppressions’ (Tlostanova et al. 2019). The panel welcomes contributions of theoretical, methodological and empirical relevance for gender studies’ engagements with rural and/or urban peripheries.

Angelika Sjöstedt1, Katarina Giritli-Nygren2, Shifte Mosalli3 and Anna Olovsdotter Lööv4

1Docent, Lektor I Genusvetenskap, Humaniora Och Samhällsvetenskap, Mittuniversitetet 2Professor, Lektor I Sociologi, Humaniora Och Samhällsvetenskap, Mittuniversitetet 3Doktorand, Sociologi, Humaniora Och Samhällsvetenskap, Mittuniversitetet

4Doktor, Lektor I Genusvetenskap, Humaniora Och Samhällsvetenskap, Mittunivesitetet