Identity Politics
Why they define us.
Identity politics ~ Politics that are based on characteristics that are true to yourself to include your:
Race
Ethnicity
Nationality or country of origin
Age (physical and emotional)
Gender
Sexual orientation
Education (dynamic, not to be confused with intelligence)
Intelligence (static, not to be confused with education)
Social class / Caste
Social background
Religious denomination / background / beliefs (dynamic; raised A and believe A, raised A but believe B)
Identity politics are tied to who you were, who you are, who you become, and are not to be confused with political party beliefs and/or affiliation but they become intertwined, especially in today’s climate. They are formed by characteristics that you cannot change to include your ethnicity, your gender, and your sexual orientation, but they are shaped by everything else. Where you grew up and who you grew up with are keys but where you attended school(s), what you studied, who your teachers and professors were and what and how they presented, things that you saw and paid attention to, people you hung out with and hang out with, etc., etc., etc.
If you grew up in a conservative/liberal/moderate household or family or community that’s where you tended to lean. Certain societal events can shape and/or impact us both positively and negatively and influence how we see and/or interact with our present and our future but by the time we start school we are already forming our views.
Over the past 2-2.5 decades many of us have shifted because we have witnessed our society shift in spite of us and because of us. Our views have become more hardened and less fluid. We are less likely to want to listen to opposing viewpoints and opinions and this is tied to our identity politics. In the past few years many of us have lost family relationships and friendships over identity politics; not simply who we might vote for but where our internal compass lies. We used to be able to have civil or semi-civil conversations with people who we disagreed with but that is becoming more rare. Blame whomever you want but you will be fighting against the “chicken vs. egg” theory. Ultimately it matters none because you as an individual have a responsibility to rise above the noise. You are responsible for your own actions and behaviors unless you have surrendered your identity control to others.
Own yourself because you are human.
So is everyone else.
