99.5%: The Power of the Intersectional Majority to Dismantle Systemic Barriers

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In a world designed to favour the few, 99.5% of the global population—the Intersectional Majority—navigates systems that often marginalise, restrict, and invisibilise their experiences. Yet, this majority also represents the foundation of our shared humanity, bound together by overlapping identities that defy traditional norms of privilege. By exploring the Privilege Pyramid, we can uncover how systemic inequities impact lives globally and learn how to dismantle barriers while building more inclusive systems.

This week, let’s dive into a transformative concept: the Intersectional Majority. By reflecting on our places within the Privilege Pyramid, we not only better understand the systems around us but also discover ways to disrupt exclusion and reimagine equity.

The 99.5% Concept: Who Is the Intersectional Majority?

When you hear "intersectionality," what comes to mind? For most, it’s the overlap of multiple identities—race, gender, sexuality, disability, socioeconomic status, and more. The Intersectional Majority refers to the global population whose experiences are shaped by these overlapping identities, often without the privilege of aligning with systemic power structures.

This group is not a small minority—it is nearly everyone, 99.5% of the global population, to be exact. The remaining 0.5%—the Privileged Core—holds the most significant influence. They represent a narrow, homogenous group whose privilege often goes unchallenged: predominantly white, affluent, cisgender, heterosexual, able-bodied, neurotypical individuals.

Data to Illustrate the 99.5%

• Wage Gaps: Black women earn 63p for every £1 earned by white men in the UK, and Latinx women earn even less in the US (Payscale, 2023).

• Climate Impact: Marginalised communities are disproportionately affected by climate change, with women in low-income nations 14x more likely to die in natural disasters (UN Women, 2022).

• Leadership Representation: Only 6% of Fortune 500 CEOs are women, and fewer than 1% are women of colour (Catalyst, 2023).

These statistics highlight how systemic inequities deeply impact the vast majority, shaping lived experiences across multiple dimensions of identity.

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The Privilege Pyramid: A Systemic Lens

The Privilege Pyramid is more than a metaphor; it is a framework for understanding systemic inequities. At the top sits the Privileged Core, a small group whose access to power and resources remains unchallenged. Beneath them lies the Intersectional Majority, a broad and diverse base navigating the compounded effects of marginalisation.

Key Layers of the Privilege Pyramid

• The Privileged Core:
  Holds generational wealth, exclusive education, and disproportionate influence in leadership. Experiences life with minimal barriers, often mistaking their privilege for merit.

• The Middle Layers:
  Includes individuals with some privileges but also challenges related to race, gender, sexuality, or socioeconomic status.
  Example: A white, cisgender woman might experience gender-based discrimination in her workplace but still benefit from racial privilege in broader social settings.

• The Marginalised Base:
  Faces systemic barriers that intersect and compound: poverty, racism, ableism, homophobia, and more. Often excluded from decision-making processes, despite being directly impacted by systemic inequities.
  Example: A disabled LGBTQ+ person of colour navigating both societal bias and systemic barriers like inaccessible public transport or lack of workplace accommodations.

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Core Insights from the Pyramid

• Privilege Amplifies Power: Those at the top of the Pyramid benefit not only from unearned advantages but also from the invisibility of those advantages.
  Example: Legacy admissions to elite universities ensure generational access to power structures.

• Systemic Gatekeeping: Exclusive hiring pipelines, cultural biases, and institutional barriers keep power concentrated within the Privileged Core.
  Example: Discriminatory hiring practices disproportionately impact women of colour, even in industries advocating for diversity.

• Intersectional Inequities: Marginalisation isn’t a single experience. It’s the compounded effect of multiple systems working against the same individual or group.
  Example: Black women face both racial and gender discrimination, often referred to as "double jeopardy."

Reflection: Where Do You See Yourself?

Let’s make this personal. Take a moment to locate yourself on the Privilege Pyramid. Reflect on the intersections of your identity: your race, gender, sexuality, ability, socioeconomic background, and more. Ask yourself:

• Where do I hold privilege, and where do I face barriers?

• How does my position influence my opportunities and challenges?

• What steps can I take to leverage my privilege or dismantle the barriers around me?

Understanding your position isn’t about guilt or shame. It’s about self-awareness and action. When we recognise privilege as a tool, not a shield, we can use it to create gateways for others rather than reinforcing gatekeeping.

How the Intersectional Majority Holds the Key to Transformation

The Intersectional Majority is often framed as powerless, but the reality is the opposite. Together, this diverse group represents the vast majority of lived experiences and potential for change. Consider this:

• When workplaces become inclusive, collaboration increases by 70%, leading to innovation and growth.

• Employees who feel seen and valued report 2.5x better mental health, reducing burnout and increasing retention.

By reframing the Intersectional Majority as a powerful collective force, we move beyond narratives of victimhood and into action. This is where transformation happens.

Personal Story: Why This Work Matters

I do what I do because I know, intimately, how painful and soul-destroying marginalisation and exclusion can be. I have felt:

• The sting of rejection.

• The weight of shame.

• The constant undercurrent of fear.

• The exhausting act of hiding, lying, and denying who I truly am—all in the desperate pursuit of acceptance and love.

These experiences have left deep marks on my heart, but they have also shaped my unwavering commitment to creating spaces where no one has to endure this kind of pain. I carry the memories of my own hurt and the countless others I’ve witnessed, and they drive me to transform this pain into purpose.

Engagement: Your Reflection for This Week

Let’s reflect together. How can recognising your position on the Privilege Pyramid influence your work, relationships, or personal goals?

Take a moment to answer:
👉 Reflection Prompt: What small action can you take this week to challenge systemic barriers or create opportunities for others?

Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments or on social media using the hashtag #IntersectionalMajority. Your insights will help build a collective vision for equity and inclusion.

The Path Forward: Reimagining Systems of Power

This journey isn’t about dismantling systems overnight—it’s about planting seeds of transformation. It starts with:

• Awareness: Reflecting on your position within the Pyramid.

• Dialogue: Starting honest conversations about privilege and inequity.

• Action: Using your privilege to create access, opportunities, and change.

The Intersectional Majority is the future—not because of its size, but because of its power to lead us toward equity, belonging, and systemic transformation.

About the Author

Jarell Bempong is an award-winning innovator, best-selling author, and pioneer of the Intersectional Cultural Consciousness™ (ICC™) framework. As the founder of Bempong Talking Therapy, Jarell bridges the worlds of mental health, leadership, and cultural transformation, empowering individuals and organisations to thrive through equity, empathy, and innovation.

His groundbreaking work combines AI-augmented strategies with culturally conscious care, creating tools and frameworks that challenge systemic inequities and redefine mental health practices. Known for his visionary approach, Jarell’s insights have inspired Fortune 500 leaders, community organisations, and marginalised professionals around the world.

Jarell’s writing, including his best-seller, White Talking Therapy Can’t Think in Black, and his upcoming book, The Intersectional Majority: Leading the Way to Inclusive Futures, has sparked global conversations about the power of intersectionality to drive meaningful change.

👉 Follow Jarell’s journey at www.bempongtalkingtherapy.com 
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