Glossary

Intersectional Futurisms: Navigating Margins, Disrupting Norms

This glossary offers contributors a conceptual foundation for engaging with the themes and frameworks
central to Intersectional Futurisms: Navigating Margins, Disrupting Norms.

• Artsci

Artsci (artistic-scientific) refers to the interdisciplinary convergence of art and science, combining creative expression and scientific inquiry to explore complex issues and generate new perspectives. This approach bridges traditionally distinct disciplines, leveraging the imaginative and exploratory nature of art with the empirical and analytical rigor of science. Artsci emphasizes collaboration, innovation, and the use of diverse methods to address social, cultural, and environmental challenges (Wilson, 2002).

In the context of this seminar, artsci provides a framework for reimagining methodologies, representations, and solutions by integrating artistic practices—such as speculative design, visual storytelling, or performance—with critical academic research. It challenges disciplinary silos and invites contributors to engage with hybrid approaches to knowledge production and dissemination. This integration reflects the transformative aim of Intersectional Futurisms, encouraging contributors to think creatively and collaboratively across disciplines.

• Intersectionality

Intersectionality, a term coined by Kimberlé Crenshaw (1989), refers to the interconnected nature of social categorizations such as race, gender, class, sexuality, and disability. These overlapping identities create unique systems of privilege and oppression, shaping individual experiences in complex ways. Intersectionality emphasizes that systems of power cannot be analyzed in isolation, as they interact and reinforce one another to create multilayered inequalities.

• Futurism

Futurism refers to imaginative frameworks that envision alternative worlds and possibilities, often as a way of critiquing present structures and envisioning transformative futures. Intersectional strands of futurism, such as Afrofuturism (Eshun, 2003), queer futurism (Muñoz, 2009), and Indigenous futurism (Dillon, 2016), foreground marginalized perspectives to challenge dominant narratives of progress, technology, and society. These frameworks use speculative imagination as a tool for resistance and world-building.

• Afrofuturism

Afrofuturism is a cultural, artistic, and theoretical framework that reimagines Black and other African identities, histories, and futures through the lens of science fiction, technology, and speculative imagination. It blends elements of African diasporic traditions, innovation, and liberation to challenge colonial narratives and envision alternative possibilities of existence. Afrofuturism critically engages with themes of race, power, and resilience, creating space for Black and other African creativity and agency in crafting futures rooted in equity and cultural reclamation (Eshun, 2003; Nelson, 2002).

• Crip Futurism

Crip futurism envisions futures where disability is not a limitation but a source of creativity, knowledge, and community. This framework disrupts ableist assumptions of “normalcy” and celebrates disability as central to rethinking the design of inclusive technologies, spaces, and systems (Kafer, 2013). Crip futurism centers the voices and experiences of disabled individuals in imagining accessible and empowering futures.

• Indigenous Futurism

Indigenous futurism draws on Indigenous traditions, knowledge systems, and histories to imagine decolonial futures that resist settler-colonial erasure. It emphasizes Indigenous sovereignty, relationality with the land, and the reclamation of cultural practices while challenging dominant narratives of progress and modernity (Dillon, 2016).

• Speculative Storytelling

Speculative storytelling refers to the use of imaginative narratives—such as science fiction, fantasy, or alternate histories—to explore “what could be” rather than “what is.” Rooted in creativity, speculative storytelling offers a way to critique existing systems of oppression and envision alternative futures. It is often used by marginalized communities to reclaim agency and voice in imagining new worlds (Nelson, 2002; Haraway, 1991).

• Coloniality

Coloniality refers to the enduring effect of colonialism in shaping global power structures, epistemologies, and social hierarchies. It highlights how colonial systems of domination persist in the modern era through racialized and capitalist systems of exploitation, even after the formal end of colonial rule (Quijano, 2000; Mignolo, 2007). This concept is central to anti-colonial scholarship and activism, as it challenges the continued marginalization of non-Western knowledges and peoples.

• Safe Space

A safe space is an environment intentionally created to ensure inclusivity, respect, and psychological safety, particularly for individuals from marginalized groups. Safe spaces prioritize the voices and experiences of those who navigate systemic oppression, allowing them to express themselves without fear of judgment, hostility, or harm (Ahmed, 2010). In academic and artistic contexts, safe spaces facilitate equitable dialogue and collaboration, fostering the creativity and empowerment of vulnerable individuals.

• Positionality

Positionality refers to the acknowledgment of an individual’s social, cultural, and political identities—such as race, gender, class, and ability—and how these intersect with systems of power. Recognizing positionality is critical for reflexivity in research and practice, as it shapes perspectives, access to resources, and the production of knowledge (Haraway, 1988). It highlights that no one operates from a neutral or objective position. Scroll down this page to find a short guide to writing a positionality statement.

• Allyship

Allyship refers to the active and consistent practice of advocating for and supporting marginalized groups by individuals who do not belong to those groups. It involves recognizing one’s own privilege, taking responsibility for addressing systemic inequities, and working collaboratively to amplify the voices and experiences of those who face oppression. Allyship is not a static identity but an ongoing process of learning, reflection, and accountability, requiring humility and a commitment to challenging oppressive structures both personally and systemically (Ahmed, 2004; Bishop, 2002).

• Sustainability

Sustainability encompasses practices and principles that prioritize environmental, social, and economic resilience over time. In the context of intersectional futurisms, sustainability is not only about preserving ecosystems but also about fostering equitable systems that sustain vulnerable communities and ensure justice for future generations (Whyte, 2018).

• Algorithmic Bias

Algorithmic bias refers to the ways in which digital algorithms—often perceived as neutral—reproduce and amplify systemic inequalities based on race, gender, and other sociopolitical identities. These biases are embedded in the design, data, and assumptions underlying digital technologies, leading to discriminatory outcomes for marginalized groups (Noble, 2018; Benjamin, 2019). Understanding algorithmic bias is key to addressing digital injustices.

• Relationality

Relationality refers to the interconnected nature of beings, environments, and systems. Central to Indigenous, feminist, queer, and decolonial frameworks, relationality emphasizes mutual dependence and care among all entities, challenging individualistic and exploitative worldviews (Wilson, 2008; Haraway, 2016).

• Empowerment

Empowerment involves fostering the capacity for vulnerable individuals and communities to claim agency, challenge systemic oppression, and achieve self-determination. In intersectional contexts, empowerment is rooted in creating equitable conditions that enable marginalized groups to thrive (hooks, 1984).

(author: Ibnelkaïd Samira)

This short guide will help contributors articulate their positionality,
fostering transparency, reflexivity, and accountability in their artistic/academic work.

What Is a Positionality Statement?

“There’s no enunciation without positionality.

You have to position yourself somewhere

in order to say anything at all”

(Hall 1990: 18)

Positionality, in academic research, refers to “the practice of a researcher delineating [their] own position in relation to the study, with the implication that this position may influence aspect of the study, such as the data collected or the way in which it is interpreted.” (Qin 2016: 1). A positionality statement is thus a reflective account in which contributors critically examine how their personal identities, experiences, and social locations intersect with systems of power and influence their research, artistic practice, or professional work. It is a key tool for fostering reflexivity, an essential practice in intersectional and decolonial scholarship, which emphasizes the importance of situating oneself within the broader social, cultural, and political contexts that shape knowledge production (Haraway, 1988).

The concept of positionality acknowledges that no individual or work is "neutral" or detached from the dynamics of power and privilege. Factors such as racial affiliation, gender identity, sexuality, class, ability, and citizenship status—as well as lived experiences and institutional affiliations—impact not only how one perceives the world but also how one engages with it. Writing a positionality statement helps contributors explicitly articulate how these factors shape their perspective and inform the choices they make in their scholarly or creative work (Rose, 1997).

Why Is Positionality Important?

1. Acknowledging Power and Privilege:
   Positionality requires contributors to critically examine their own power and privilege in relation to their subject matter, audience, and collaborators. For instance, an able-bodied researcher examining digital accessibility must consider how their perspective may differ from those with lived experiences of disability (Kafer, 2013).

2. Enhancing Reflexivity:
   Reflexivity is the process of continually interrogating how one’s own positionality affects the questions they ask, the methods they use, and the interpretations they draw (Pillow, 2003). A positionality statement demonstrates an awareness of this dynamic and highlights efforts to minimize biases or assumptions.

3. Fostering Transparency and Accountability:
   By disclosing positionality, contributors demonstrate their commitment to transparency in their intellectual and creative practices. This accountability strengthens the ethical foundation of their work, particularly when engaging with marginalized communities or sensitive topics (Smith, 2012).

4. Challenging Dominant Epistemologies:
   Traditional academic norms often obscure the researcher’s role in shaping knowledge. Writing a positionality statement aligns with decolonial and feminist epistemologies, which challenge these norms by situating knowledge as partial, relational, and context-dependent (Ahmed, 2010; Tuhiwai Smith, 2012).

What to Include in a Positionality Statement

A positionality statement is highly individual and context-specific, but it typically addresses the following:

• Identity and Lived Experience: Reflect on how your identities and lived experiences—such as race, gender, sexuality, class, disability, or migration status—inform your perspective on the topic.

• Power Dynamics: Examine your relative privilege or marginalization in relation to your subject matter and collaborators. For example, consider whether you are an insider or outsider to the community or issues you are engaging with.

• Motivations and Intentions: Articulate why you are drawn to this topic or artistic practice, and how your work seeks to engage with or challenge existing power structures.

• Ethics and Relationships: Consider the ethical implications of your work, including how you approach collaboration, representation, and accountability to the communities or topics involved.

• Impact on Methodologies and Outputs: Reflect on how your positionality shapes your methodological choices, creative processes, or the way you present your findings.

Example of Positionality in Practice

For instance, a scholar exploring algorithmic bias in digital technologies might note their privileged position as a tech user from a Global North country while acknowledging the limitations of their perspective in understanding the lived realities of algorithmic harm in the Global South (Benjamin, 2019). Similarly, an artist working with Indigenous futurism may reflect on their non-Indigenous identity and describe how they collaborate with Indigenous knowledge holders to avoid cultural appropriation and ensure respectful engagement (Dillon, 2016).

Writing Your Positionality Statement

When writing your positionality statement, strive for honesty, specificity, and critical self-awareness. Avoid performative disclosure or overly generalized statements. Instead, focus on demonstrating a thoughtful engagement with how your positionality shapes your work and its implications.

A strong positionality statement not only enriches the rigor and integrity of your contribution but also aligns with the values of Intersectional Futurisms: Navigating Margins, Disrupting Norms—a space dedicated to fostering critical, expansive, and reflexive scholarship and artistic practice.

References

• Ahmed, S. (2010). The Promise of Happiness. Duke University Press.

• Benjamin, R. (2019). Race After Technology: Abolitionist Tools for the New Jim Code. Polity.

• Dillon, G. (2016). Walking the Clouds: An Anthology of Indigenous Science Fiction. University of Arizona Press.

• Haraway, D. J. (1988). Situated Knowledges: The Science Question in Feminism and the Privilege of Partial Perspective. Feminist Studies, 14(3), 575–599.

• Kafer, A. (2013). Feminist, Queer, Crip. Indiana University Press.

• Pillow, W. S. (2003). Confession, Catharsis, or Cure? Rethinking the Uses of Reflexivity as Methodological Power in Qualitative Research. International Journal of Qualitative Studies in Education, 16(2), 175–196.

• Rose, G. (1997). Situating Knowledges: Positionality, Reflexivities and Other Tactics. Progress in Human Geography, 21(3), 305–320.

• Smith, L. T. (2012). Decolonizing Methodologies: Research and Indigenous Peoples. Zed Books.

• Qin, D. (2016). “Positionality”. In Wong, A., Wickramasinghe, M., Hoogland, R.  and Naples, N.A. (eds) The Wiley Blackwell Encyclopedia of Gender and Sexuality Studies.

(author: Ibnelkaïd Samira)