From Information Poverty to Information Deficit: An Intersectional Analysis of Women of Color’s News Information-Seeking Habits in the Digital Age

Abstract

Scholars have used information poverty theory for decades to understand when and why marginalized individuals feel disconnected from news and information. However, by focusing on how individuals create information-poor environments, these studies shift attention away from the role of institutions in sustaining informational deficits. This article engages intersectionality as a systemic analysis of power to understand the structural, societal-level dimension of women of color’s news information-seeking habits in the digital age. Through eight focus groups with N = 45 women of color, this study elucidates the dynamic role of intersecting forms of systemic marginalization in informing women of color’s information-seeking habits. This study contributes to our understanding of the role of media institutions in creating and sustaining informational inequities.