Nora Dimitrova Clinton
Papers of BAS. Humanities and Social Sciences
Vol. 13, 2026, No. 1
Intersectionality: Origins and limitations
Nora Dimitrova Clinton
Abstract. Intersectionality has become a dominant, largely unchallenged framework in contemporary academia. This paper examines its origins, core concepts, and applications, evaluating its assumptions and methods against standards of academic rigour. Using historical reconstruction and conceptual analysis, it places intersectionality within broader traditions of political and philosophical thought.
The analysis argues that intersectionality has significant theoretical and methodological flaws, including treating normative conclusions as given premises, conflating correlation with causation, and resisting empirical testing. In policy and institutional use, these features can produce harmful effects by undermining individual agency, meritocratic standards, and equal treatment under the law.
The paper concludes by contrasting intersectionality with approaches grounded in empirical accountability, conceptual clarity, and moral universalism, which offer more coherent and constructive ways to address social problems.
Keywords: intersectionality, critical theory, identity politics, academic methodology, liberal democracy