Unknown mathematical forms of compounding intersectional inequalities

Characterize the mathematical forms by which social capital inequalities compound when multiple disadvantaged identities intersect in social networks, determining how multidimensional disparities arise from (or deviate from) combinations of single-dimension inequalities.

Background

Intersectionality posits that disadvantages at the intersection of multiple identities do not simply add up; instead they compound in complex, often nonlinear ways. While qualitative insights are well developed, quantitative methodologies to capture these compounding effects have lagged.

The authors explicitly state the absence of knowledge about the mathematical forms governing the compounding of inequalities, motivating their operationalizations of simple, emergent, and nonlinear intersectionality and analytical derivations within a multidimensional network model.

References

However, adopting an intersectional approach to measure social network inequalities presents significant challenges, as we still don't know in what mathematical forms inequalities are compounding and adding up.

— Intersectional inequalities in social networks  (2410.21189 - Martin-Gutierrez et al., 2024) in Section 1 (Introduction)