Intersectional perspective and rural poverty Research: Benefits, challenges and policy implications

Abstract

Traditionally, poverty scholarship in the U.S. focuses on the levels, trends, and effects of poverty across social categories broadly defined either by race (minorities) or gender (women) or age (children). An intersectional perspective elucidates the complexity of people's social locations by conceptualizing race, class, gender as simultaneously interacting power relations. In this work, we suggest how an intersectional approach can benefit our understanding of social inequalities in rural areas in an effort to better inform rural poverty research and policies. A related goal is to encourage a more thorough integration of class and age inequalities in intersectional scholarship. We conclude by discussing the benefits of a dialog between rural poverty research and an intersectionality perspective. © Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.