Psychology and intersectionality as critical social theory: beginning of the conversation

Abstract

What is the role of the psychological clinic in social change? In other words, what has been the contribution of clinical psychology in transforming living conditions marked by inequality, prejudice and violence? Has the clinic, alongside the use of psychotropic drugs and state violence, acted as a device for controlling and minimizing dissatisfactions, conflicts and traumas produced by the life conditions of the majority of the population? Have you preserved privileged places of speaking and listening while keeping the intolerable at bay? Has it mitigated intra-family, sexist, misogynistic, racist, ableist, sexist violence? Has it acted as an arm of life management that seeks to contain forces, voices, revolt instead of denunciation, validation and reparation? This article aims to present an outline of discussion on these issues, draw attention to them, but also encourage those who train and work in psychology to initiate some action. To this end, it intends to bring the reference to intersectionality as a critical social theory as proposed by Patricia Hill Collins in its aspect of intellectual resistance and social action, as another path of training and practice in psychology.