The Spaces Between: Using Thick Intersectionality to Explain Identity Gaps Presented in Ginny & Georgia

Abstract

ABSTRACT Ginny & Georgia, an original Netflix show released in 2021, showcases how racial identity construction cannot be separated from history, culture, language, and oppressive structural systems in society through the writing of the main character Ginny. In this paper, we explore how communication theory of identity (CTI) and thick intersectionality (TI) connect to examine the material consequences of the ideologies that undergird Ginny’s identity formation. Findings illuminated identity gaps formed at the personal-enacted and personal-relational locations through Ginny’s on-screen performance, which highlight the complexity of and tensions within expressing and performing multiraciality. We argue these identity gaps accentuate the interlocking systems of oppression that lead to expectations of group membership performances. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.