Your intersecting factors
Every Canadian has a different combination of intersecting factors that influence their experiences. As we noted in Module 2, we must consider these factors when developing any government initiative.
To begin that process, it is important to be aware of how your own social experiences, influenced by such intersecting factors such as age, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, marital status and ability, can influence your work and ultimately, results for Canadians. If we are not aware of the intersecting factors that influence our own experiences, we can sometimes assume that the experiences of others are the same.
Once we are aware of the factors that intersect in our own experiences, it is easier to challenge any assumptions we might have about others.
For each category in the image below, ask yourself how it affects your experiences. For example, job status: do you work full-time, part-time, as a permanent, term or casual employee? Is this a matter of choice, and what are the associated benefits or barriers?
Continue with each category and then look at the full picture. How similar are your intersecting factors to those of other Canadians? Have any factors created a barrier or opportunity to accessing government programs or services? Can you identify any assumptions you might make about other Canadians based on these categories?
