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I think this highlights an important blind spot some people have when they focus on identity politics. A huge gap between elites and the rest of society is som

by gedy 6y ago

I think this highlights an important blind spot some people have when they focus on identity politics. A huge gap between elites and the rest of society is somehow more okay if the elites are more diverse in gender or skin color. I don't feel it's much better but am at risk of being told I don't care about diversity or intentionally changing the subject.

meowface 6y ago
I have no problem with elites, personally. Just (alleged) corruption. I think most social justice advocates would agree that corruption and regulatory capture are bad. If anything, I'd expect a response more like "why are women like Yellen and Hillary Clinton being uniquely targeted with these accusations?" (whether they are or aren't). I'm not sure where the parent poster is sourcing the claimed identity-based defenses of her alleged corruption, though.
bsanr2 6y ago
I think you'll find that most people who focus on identity politics would rather have that gap closed for everyone, than to see specifically people who look like them in places of power why they themselves continue to languish. The issue is that these people who focus on identity politics aren't actually stupid and, in fact, do understand the rules of this game that they were swept into (without their consent, mind you): power accrues more power and tribalism is rampant. Under the status quo, people who've been marginalized in the past have a better chance when they increase their numbers in seats of power. Further, strides forward in economic and social wellbeing tend to leave them behind unless they speak up. So the dilemma in the situation you describe is between whether to ignore diversity concerns and in turn be ignored, or to speak up and risk losing class solidarity. It sucks that we have to make that decision; it would be better if less-marginalized people made proactive efforts to ensure we're involved in and will explicitly benefit from initiatives or movements that implicitly aligns with our interests.

by gedy 6y ago

meowface 6y ago

I have no problem with elites, personally. Just (alleged) corruption. I think most social justice advocates would agree that corruption and regulatory capture are bad. If anything, I'd expect a response more like "why are women like Yellen and Hillary Clinton being uniquely targeted with these accusations?" (whether they are or aren't). I'm not sure where the parent poster is sourcing the claimed identity-based defenses of her alleged corruption, though.

bsanr2 6y ago

I think you'll find that most people who focus on identity politics would rather have that gap closed for everyone, than to see specifically people who look like them in places of power why they themselves continue to languish. The issue is that these people who focus on identity politics aren't actually stupid and, in fact, do understand the rules of this game that they were swept into (without their consent, mind you): power accrues more power and tribalism is rampant. Under the status quo, people who've been marginalized in the past have a better chance when they increase their numbers in seats of power. Further, strides forward in economic and social wellbeing tend to leave them behind unless they speak up. So the dilemma in the situation you describe is between whether to ignore diversity concerns and in turn be ignored, or to speak up and risk losing class solidarity. It sucks that we have to make that decision; it would be better if less-marginalized people made proactive efforts to ensure we're involved in and will explicitly benefit from initiatives or movements that implicitly aligns with our interests.