Does focusing on ethnocultural issues risk potentially indulging in some of identity politics allegedly regressive tendencies?
Perhaps—while the importance of ethnocultural background is often unduly minimized, especially in the U.S., it also shouldn’t be used to support an overly narrow or defensive point of view. I had thought about approaching these issues from a purely cultural perspective, but that would have been overly broad because of the depth and complexities of the various cultures of Europe and Asia. In any case many of the criticisms of identity politics tend to come from those whose interests are threatened by the empowerment of others, and shouldn’t be heeded too strongly. Having said that much of identity politics (or at least the practice of it), because it so often uncritically bases itself on individualistic notions (while at the same time claiming to challenge them), can sometimes be somewhat ill-suited to the interests of people with more collectivistic or sociocentric backgrounds.
Related Questions
- We treat all pupils equally, I am concerned that focusing on a pupils racial identity will create conflict or polarity between different groups within the school?
- Does focusing on ethnocultural issues risk potentially indulging in some of identity politics allegedly regressive tendencies?
- Doesn the focus on ethnocultural background reinforce some of the regressive tendencies inherent to identity politics?
