Identity-Based Politics are Not the Problem, Identity-Based Oppression Is

[Soph0571]

Although criticizing “identity politics” has become a hobby for some (on both the right and left), appreciating how racial, gender, sexual, and other identities help shape our experiences and perspectives can be critical to productive political discourse.

These identities are not without consequence, after all, nor are their consequences of secondary importance to other, more universal, concerns. They are often central to people’s lives.

Contrary to the claims of libertarians and conservatives, we are not merely “individuals.” Humans have never lived in isolation. None of us were raised on an island by a porpoise. We exist as members of groups, where those groups’ respective statuses have influenced the relationship to opportunity that individuals have enjoyed.

What’s more, it is only because those identities have been given particular meaning by systems of inequality — in short, because of oppression on the basis of those things — that individuals now seek to organize around said identities.

[link:https://medium.com/@timjwise/identity-based-politics-are-not-the-problem-identity-based-oppression-is-3775a5cdfe1d|

Really good read - IMO only those who have privilege think identity politics is not that interesting within their political ideology

[ck4829]

1. K&R. To see the agenda behind this, all one has to do is see what is NOT called "identity politics"

[Squinch]

2. I always try to remind people that "identity based politics"

is just another phrase for "civil rights." We should question ANYONE who uses this weasel phrase.