Using Intersectionality to Understand How Structural Domains Are Embedded in Life Narratives

Bibliographic Data

ID7160286
AuthorsDulce Wilkinson Westberg (0000-0003-4824-2124, Department of Psychology University of California, Davis Davis California USA, corresponding author), Moin Syed (0000-0003-4759-3555, Department of Psychology University of Minnesota Minneapolis Minnesota USA), Aerika Brittian Loyd (0000-0002-3865-534X, Department of Psychology University of California, Riverside Riverside California USA), William L Dunlop (0000-0003-3989-8156, University of California, Riverside), William Dunlop (Department of Psychology University of California, Riverside Riverside California USA)
Year2025
Volume93
Issue4
Pages913-928
Publication date2025-08-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Personality (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0022-3506 • E-ISSN: 1467-6494
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/jopy.12984
PMID39487672
OpenAlexW4404007105
LanguageEN
Citations received4
References cited55

OBJECTIVE: This study draws on life narrative data and an intersectional framework to explore features of narratives around structural domains, aiming to better understand the possible impacts of these domains on identity. METHOD: Through in-depth semi-structured interviews with 177 young adults from primarily minoritized groups (73% Asian American or Latine, 59% Women, Median Parent Income = $50,001 to $75,000), we gathered 885 life narratives. Young adults narrated a domain-general, ethnic/racial, gender, social class, and intersectional experience. Features capturing the content (Presence of Structural Domains, Connection to and Between Structural Domains) and process (Meaning Making, Affective Tone) of narratives were explored. RESULTS: Structural domains manifested uniquely within narratives such that ethnicity/race was discussed most frequently across narratives, whereas gender and social class were mentioned more in narratives about those domains. Additionally, Meaning Making was highest in self-defining narratives and positively correlated with the number of structural domains present within and across narratives. Affective Tone was most positive in self-defining narratives and most negative in social class narratives, which also contained the lowest Connection to Structural Domain. CONCLUSION: This study combines an intersectional framework and life narrative data to understand how structural domains manifest within young adults' experiences, revealing how those domains are interconnected and may impact identity

Aesthetics · Art · Ethnic group · Identity (music) · Intersectionality · Literature · Meaning (existential) · Narrative · Narrative inquiry · Political science · Social class · Sociology · Tone (literature) · Aging and Gerontology Research · Anthropology · Attachment and Relationship Dynamics · Gender Studies · Identity, Memory, and Therapy · Psychology · Social Psychology

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