ABSTRACT
Intersectionality is a concept of fusion, but it has a special message and a particular history which cautions against any kind of ‘melting pot’ idea where the elements dilute and become something new. In this essay I will fi rst give an account of intersectionality’s rapid spread from the USA to Europe and other continents; I will then distinguish between various strands and positions among those who use the concept; fi nally, I will outline open questions linked to the debates about intersectionality’s scientifi c use and status.
