Feminist Scrollytelling: Visual data essays about intersectionality

Systemic oppression, marginalization and inequalities are invisible, incomprehensible, and intangible for the privileged—especially because they are not part of their lived experience. Structural discrimination and marginalization can be demonstrated and explained through concrete examples. Just think of the impact socioeconomic background has on educational aspirations and means to achieve them, of the very low percentage of women* in political or business leadership positions, and of the rampant labor exploitation in the care sector. The following visual data essays at the intersection of editorial design and information visualization make complex issues pertaining to discrimination, systemic inequalities and marginalization accessible to a broader audience. Interdisciplinary teams of Design and European Media Studies students developed these short essays to explore the ways in which various axes of power/privilege and disadvantage such as race, ethnicity, religion, gender, class, disability, sexual orientation and gender identity overlap to create unique dynamics and effects, also known as intersectionality. While the majority of essays are in German, some can be found in English.

The course was conducted in cooperation with the Center for Intersectional Justice (CIJ).