Feminist Encounters: A Journal of Critical Studies in Culture and Politics
Research Article
2026, 10(1), Article No: 9

The complexity of giving voice: Intersectionality as method in the study of instagram and marginalised identities

Rachel Abreu 1 *
1 University of Stirling, UNITED KINGDOM
* Corresponding Author
https://doi.org/10.20897/femenc/17897
Published in Volume 10 Issue 1: 13 Feb 2026
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Abstract

Instagram is a key platform for expressions of identity. Yet it continues to uphold normative, Eurocentric ideals that further alienate marginalised groups. Drawing on a larger research project on Instagram, beauty, and religious identity, this paper considers articulations of intersectionality on Instagram and the value of feminist approaches in highlighting ethnic minority women’s unique experiences. Religious women are persistently minimised in academic and media discourse surrounding representation. Existing scholarship largely centres on White women’s experiences; conflates race with ethnicity; and defaults to generalised categories of religion. Through a detailed account of the research process, this study explores the use of intersectionality-as-method to address the limitations of previous research and resist colonial framings of identity.  This paper discusses the opportunities and challenges of centring subjective experience in research while mitigating bias and maintaining criticality. The aim of giving voice is explored through the value of subjectivity; insider/outsider positioning; and the co-creation of knowledge. Ultimately, upholding an intersectional methodological approach adds nuance to existing categories of identity in research by highlighting specificities in racial identity, religious denomination, and the Instagram user experience. The paper concludes with recommendations for future applications of intersectionality-as-method in research on digital media.
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APA 7th edition
In-text citation: (Abreu, 2026)
Reference: Abreu, R. (2026). The complexity of giving voice: Intersectionality as method in the study of instagram and marginalised identities. Feminist Encounters: A Journal of Critical Studies in Culture and Politics, 10(1), Article 9. https://doi.org/10.20897/femenc/17897
AMA 10th edition
In-text citation: (1), (2), (3), etc.
Reference: Abreu R. The complexity of giving voice: Intersectionality as method in the study of instagram and marginalised identities. Feminist Encounters: A Journal of Critical Studies in Culture and Politics. 2026;10(1), 9. https://doi.org/10.20897/femenc/17897
Chicago
In-text citation: (Abreu, 2026)
Reference: Abreu, Rachel. "The complexity of giving voice: Intersectionality as method in the study of instagram and marginalised identities". Feminist Encounters: A Journal of Critical Studies in Culture and Politics 2026 10 no. 1 (2026): 9. https://doi.org/10.20897/femenc/17897
Harvard
In-text citation: (Abreu, 2026)
Reference: Abreu, R. (2026). The complexity of giving voice: Intersectionality as method in the study of instagram and marginalised identities. Feminist Encounters: A Journal of Critical Studies in Culture and Politics, 10(1), 9. https://doi.org/10.20897/femenc/17897
MLA
In-text citation: (Abreu, 2026)
Reference: Abreu, Rachel "The complexity of giving voice: Intersectionality as method in the study of instagram and marginalised identities". Feminist Encounters: A Journal of Critical Studies in Culture and Politics, vol. 10, no. 1, 2026, 9. https://doi.org/10.20897/femenc/17897
Vancouver
In-text citation: (1), (2), (3), etc.
Reference: Abreu R. The complexity of giving voice: Intersectionality as method in the study of instagram and marginalised identities. Feminist Encounters: A Journal of Critical Studies in Culture and Politics. 2026;10(1):9. https://doi.org/10.20897/femenc/17897
Keywords
social media, representation, intersectional identities, feminist methodologies, subjectivity and meaning making
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