Rurality and intersectionality: a literature review

Purpose The paper presents a literature review conducted to consider the range and focus of papers applying a stated intersectional framework to rural contexts. Design/methodology/approach With a specific interest in intersectionality studies that were connected to rural areas, a number of databases were searched for the term “intersectionality”, and from 492 identified papers, 21 papers met the criteria for review. Thematic analysis captured the range of themes within and across each paper. Findings Although all papers considered gender, race and their relation to identity, the strongest theme throughout was the concept of place. Place was often related to how identity is shaped within place. Multiple inequalities and intersecting identities related to race, ethnicity, class, sex and place, and their impacts were documented. The extent to which intersectionality was able to be employed in analysis and discussion is highlighted. The papers sought to acknowledge the complexity in these domains with some providing in-depth analysis of experiences in a number of domains and examining norms, values, power structures and the discourses and narratives that support these. Research limitations/implications This literature review discussed papers from the Global North. It was imperative to consider nations with similar systems and governance sophistication to undertake meaningful analysis. Future research could encompass articles from across the globe (specifically, from areas and regions of the Global South) to compare and contrast applications and interpretations of intersectional research and practice in more varied contexts. There could also be a greater focus on historical debates that have influenced the interaction of intersectionality and rurality such as feminist approaches as well as more focus on confronting privilege and how that frames analyses. Practical implications Intersectionality requires application as a complete framework to research and practice so as to better hear the voices expressing lived experiences of individuals, groups and communities within all social identifiers of which place is a vital component. This is further compounded when considering the impact of interpretations of rurality. The authors of this literature review acknowledge a need to de-whiten and decolonialise experiences encapsulated in the notions, concepts and application of intersectionality and rurality. Capturing the complexity that emerges in intersectional analysis is a challenge that has been embraced to varying degrees within the papers reviewed. Social implications Appreciation of the complex array of factors that contribute to rural contexts needs to be embraced in research through intersectional analysis. What is absent from some of the papers, is an explanation or need to challenge the urban-centric and white-dominated views of intersectionality and the application of intersectionality excluding other social indicators such as the impact of place. The notion of place within itself incorporates the social and without the social, then place would become merely space (Johnston, 2018). Originality/value The papers chosen presented a range of applications of intersectionality that allow us to consider an intersectional lens with a strong application indicating the use of interrelated themes throughout such as race and gender in relation to place and power structures.