Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

1. Explain the meaning of the term “intersectional feminism” in your own words. Consider what the word “intersectional” adds to the simpler term “feminism.” How does the lens of intersectional feminism support the fight for equality?

Teaching Suggestion: This question situates students in the thematic context of Adichie’s essay, while introducing a new lens to the discussion of feminism. Based on the level of the class, students may or may not be familiar with the term “intersectional feminism,” a lens that notes how individuals may experience multiple forms of inequality and discrimination simultaneously, such as race, social class, etc. In this vein, the Small Injustices that women can experience may be compounded based on other forms of discrimination, such as race and social class. Kimberlé Crenshaw first coined the term in 1989 to challenge notions that Black women did not experience multiple forms of discrimination, particularly in the context of legal rights. You may consider sharing this definition to allow students to explain it in their own words or create their own examples based on observations of society.