The Center for Inclusion and Belonging and the Women’s History Committee hosted a Women’s History and Intersectionality event on March 4. Sabrina Melo Chew, a WHC member, gave a presentation on intersectionality.

According to Chews presentation, intersectionality is a framework for understanding how different aspects of a person’s identity, such as race, gender, class, sexuality and disability overlap and interact, creating unique experiences of discrimination, privilege or disadvantage.

“We have a wide range of events coming up for Women’s History Month, but we wanted to start with a presentation so we could ease ourselves into the month and educate others,” said Kayla Anaya, the student support specialist at the CIB.

The event was a small presentation followed by a dance performance to kick off the month’s celebrations and upcoming events.

“I just wanted to learn more about Women’s History Month and support Sabrina,” said Lucina Morinko, a 21-year-old mathematics major.

Intersectionality is essential to women’s history because it recognizes and addresses the diverse experiences of all women, rather than focusing only on a single, universal experience of womanhood, according to the presentation Chew had given.

“It opens my mind up because when it comes to women’s history, everyone has their own struggles, and people experience discrimination differently. Sometimes, you never know what someone is going through,” Morinko said.

Following the presentation, the event moved to the quad, where a hip-hop dance performance took place. The dancers were Athena Singh, Angelica Leon and Julia Nguyen, who are part of the Cosumnes River College’s Dance Club.

About 14 people in the quad watched the performance.

“Events like this are inviting and educational, so I try to attend them,” Morinko said.

The event lasted about an hour, informing its attendees on what intersectionality is and set the stage for the upcoming events for Women’s History Month.

“To challenge what other people say, it’s up to you to educate yourself. It’s your job to learn, educate and change,” said Brianna Furiosi, a 29-year-old human services and sociology major.