5 ms·

I still don't understand what identity politics is. (as opposed to politics)

by ygaf 9y ago

ajmurmann 9y ago
This is really hard to respond to because the general definition is straight forward, but concrete examples get controversial really quick. As I understand it identity politics is dominated by in-group and out-group thinking. The group can be racial, cultural, gender based, didn't really matter. Extreme examples are: You aren't allowed to speak about the situation of women in the work place without identifying as a woman; if you are pro abortion and don't smoke you are likely against guns and the crucial part: might be shunned from your social group of you aren't; funny example from a recent article here: if you are a true Vegan you also can't eat processed food like Quorn.
- ygaf 9y ago
  So identity politics is when you try to make other people invalid. That's a more radical definition than the one(s) in wikipedia, thanks though.
  - ygaf 9y ago
    Multiple downvotes for acknowledging replies, wow. There's some real clowns out there.
superioritycplx 9y ago
Trudeau making half of his office female, even though much less were actually elected, is identity politics.
booleandilemma 9y ago
Identity politics is calling a black person who voted for McCain or a mexican-american who voted for Trump a traitor.
kelukelugames 9y ago
May I suggest the wikipedia page? The term has historical significance. It's usually applied to underprivileged groups and associated with democrats. For some reason no one calls it identity politics when Trump divides us into patriots and sons of bitches. Or real Americans vs coastal elites, etc. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Identity_politics https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Identity_politics
- ygaf 9y ago
  I wouldn't ask about single words/concepts without wiki'ing first. It's when even wikipedia leaves me blank that I pray for the interpretation of a HNer (or stackexchanger etc). Wikipedia says identity politics is people holding political positions in the interests of their religion, social class or caste, culture, dialect, disability, education, ethnicity, language, nationality, sex, gender identity, generation, occupation, profession, race, political party affiliation, sexual orientation, settlement, urban and rural habitation, and veteran status. Well damn, that's everything.
  - kelukelugames 9y ago
    Yes, it covers everything. But in the US the term "identity politics" became popular during the Civil Rights Era. So it has been used to describe issues impacting African Americans. They vote overwhelmingly Democrat, so Republicans use the term in a derogatory manner.
deleted 9y ago
[deleted]

I still don't understand what identity politics is. (as opposed to politics)

by ygaf 9y ago

I still don't understand what identity politics is. (as opposed to politics)

This is really hard to respond to because the general definition is straight forward, but concrete examples get controversial really quick. As I understand it identity politics is dominated by in-group and out-group thinking. The group can be racial, cultural, gender based, didn't really matter. Extreme examples are: You aren't allowed to speak about the situation of women in the work place without identifying as a woman; if you are pro abortion and don't smoke you are likely against guns and the crucial part: might be shunned from your social group of you aren't; funny example from a recent article here: if you are a true Vegan you also can't eat processed food like Quorn.

ygaf 9y ago
So identity politics is when you try to make other people invalid. That's a more radical definition than the one(s) in wikipedia, thanks though.
- ygaf 9y ago
  Multiple downvotes for acknowledging replies, wow. There's some real clowns out there.

superioritycplx 9y ago

Trudeau making half of his office female, even though much less were actually elected, is identity politics.

booleandilemma 9y ago

Identity politics is calling a black person who voted for McCain or a mexican-american who voted for Trump a traitor.

kelukelugames 9y ago

May I suggest the wikipedia page? The term has historical significance. It's usually applied to underprivileged groups and associated with democrats. For some reason no one calls it identity politics when Trump divides us into patriots and sons of bitches. Or real Americans vs coastal elites, etc. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Identity_politics https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Identity_politics

ygaf 9y ago
I wouldn't ask about single words/concepts without wiki'ing first. It's when even wikipedia leaves me blank that I pray for the interpretation of a HNer (or stackexchanger etc). Wikipedia says identity politics is people holding political positions in the interests of their religion, social class or caste, culture, dialect, disability, education, ethnicity, language, nationality, sex, gender identity, generation, occupation, profession, race, political party affiliation, sexual orientation, settlement, urban and rural habitation, and veteran status. Well damn, that's everything.
- kelukelugames 9y ago
  Yes, it covers everything. But in the US the term "identity politics" became popular during the Civil Rights Era. So it has been used to describe issues impacting African Americans. They vote overwhelmingly Democrat, so Republicans use the term in a derogatory manner.

deleted 9y ago

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