Sexual Orientation Through an Intersectional Lens：Multiple Oppressions, Identity Construction, and Psychological Well-being

Abstract

This paper examines sexual orientation through the lens of intersectionality theory, emphasizing it as a complex construct shaped by emotional, romantic, and sexual attraction within systems of power, and highlighting its implications for mental health under conditions of structural inequality. Intersectionality, originally formulated by Crenshaw, this study aims to analyze how overlapping identities—such as race, gender, class, and sexual orientation—interact to produce distinctive patterns of oppression and privilege, and how these patterns can translate into psychological stress and distress. Using qualitative case-based methods, this paper examines cases of Black lesbian women in South Africa, who face extreme, compounded violence such as “corrective rape” due to interlocking racism, patriarchy, class inequality, and homophobia, despite legal protections. It also examines asexual youth, showing that identity disclosure can intensify discrimination and generate psychological distress, as sexual orientation intersects with gender identity in everyday social settings.