There is no such thing as a single-issue struggle because we do not live single-issue lives.
—Audre Lorde
In discussions about marginalization, the focus often gravitates toward broad categorizations: communities of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, low-income groups, or people with disabilities. These groups are undeniably marginalized in the socioeconomic and political structures that dominate our society. However, within these groups exist further layers of marginalization—subgroups whose experiences and struggles are often overlooked, even within movements and policies ostensibly aimed at empowering them. This phenomenon is what we term marginalized within the marginalized. These subgroups include, but are not limited to, Black transgender women within the LGBTQ+ community, disabled individuals of color, immigrants who identify as LGBTQ+, or individuals from Indigenous communities living in extreme poverty. Their voices are often drowned out, not just by dominant societal structures but sometimes even within the very communities they belong to.
Marginalized within marginalized groups refers to individuals who face compounded discrimination due to their intersectional identities. These individuals exist at the crossroads of multiple forms of oppression, often experiencing unique challenges that are overlooked even by broader movements advocating for equality. For example, a Black transgender woman may confront both anti-Black racism and transphobia while also grappling with societal expectations and prejudices within the LGBTQ+ community itself. Similarly, disabled immigrants might face barriers tied to both ableism and xenophobia, leaving their specific needs unaddressed in disability advocacy or immigration reform. By existing in these intersectional spaces, marginalized within marginalized groups highlight the limitations of single-issue advocacy and underscore the need for more comprehensive and inclusive approaches to justice.
The purpose of exploring the “marginalized within the marginalized” is to illuminate the unique challenges and structural barriers these subgroups face. While initiatives to promote equity have expanded in scope and visibility, they frequently fail to account for intersectional disparities. This omission results in furthering inequality by unintentionally perpetuating a one-size-fits-all approach to justice and equity. Understanding the experiences of those marginalized within marginalized groups requires a nuanced lens that acknowledges the multiplicity of identities and the compounded nature of discrimination.
One aim of this issue is to challenge the dominant narratives that tend to homogenize marginalized communities. Rather than perpetuating erasure through oversimplification, this exploration seeks to elevate the voices of those whose struggles are at the intersection of multiple oppressions. It is a call to action for scholars, policymakers, and advocates to adopt a more inclusive and intersectional approach to equity—one that truly leaves no one behind. In this way, examining the marginalized within the marginalized is not just an academic exercise; it is a necessary step toward creating a more just and equitable society for all.
