The Mysterious Self: Rethinking the Self and Revisiting Intersectionality

• In Event: Theory Section Refereed Roundtables
  In Refereed Roundtable (60 minute): Table 7

Abstract

The contemporary reduction of interlocking identities wrapped under George Herbert Mead’s Self, has led individuals to reject themselves and accept an identity under the Generalized Other, erasing alternative sentiments of understanding oneself. Instead, Power-Elites who own the modes of production and communication have used Mead’s sociological theory of “The Self” to prey upon marginalized groups through misappropriating Intersectionality. They have collapsed it into a Singular Identity (Nipert 2024) and weaponized it (Crenshaw 2021), which is not congruent with Bell Hooks, Patricia Hill Collins, or Kimberle Crenshaw theoretical positions of Intersectionality and their original intentions (Hooks 1984)(Hill Collins 1990)(Crenshaw 1989). This paper introduces a new construct to disrupt the status quo, The Mysterious Self. The Mysterious Self allows for self-agency, advocating for an opportunity to explore and experience change, challenging the Power-Elites, and taking back the Self and Intersectionality.

Author

• Soraya Cardenas, Cascadia College