Distinct Identities (Routledge Series on Identity Politics)

Minority women in the United States draw from their unique personal experiences, born of their identities, to impact American politics. Whether as political elites or as average citizens, minority women demonstrate that they have a unique voice that more often than not centers on their visions of justice, equality, and fairness.

In this volume, Dr. Nadia E. Brown and Sarah Allen Gershon seek to present studies of minority women that highlight how they are similar and dissimilar to other groups of women or minorities, as well as variations within groups of minority women. Current demographic and political trends suggest that minority populations-specifically minority women-will be at the forefront of shaping U.S. politics. Yet, scholars still have very little understanding of how these populations will behave politically. This book provides a detailed view of how minority women will utilize their sheer numbers, collective voting behavior, policy preferences, and roles as elected officials to impact American politics.

The scholarship on intersectionality in this volume seeks to push beyond disciplinary constraints to think more holistically about the politics of identity.

Nadia Brown is Associate Professor in the Department of Political Science & African American Studies and Research Center at Purdue University. Her research demonstrates the importance of marginalized identities in political representation and participation.

Sarah Allen Gershon is an Associate Professor of Political Science at Georgia State University. Her research focuses on the incorporation of traditionally underrepresented groups (including women, and racial and ethnic minorities) into the American political system.