Received: from abernathy.tenet.edu (Kay-Abernathy.tenet.edu [198.213.2.7]) by csf.Colorado.EDU (8.6.4/8.6.4/CNS-2.0) with SMTP id PAA11187 for ; Tue, 11 Jan 1994 15:01:44 -0700 Received: by abernathy.tenet.edu id AA22293 (5.65c/IDA-1.4.4 for psn@csf.colorado.edu); Tue, 11 Jan 1994 15:59:31 -0600 Date: Tue, 11 Jan 1994 15:26:35 -0600 (CST) From: Peter Chua Sender: Peter Chua Reply-To: Peter Chua Subject: Identity Politics Discussion To: psn@csf.colorado.edu Message-Id: Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; CHARSET=US-ASCII Status: RO I would like to know what people thought of the limits of identity politics. As a strategy, I think identity politics can conflict with other broad political goals (understanding that differences exist within distincts groups) which are linked with subjective identities that does not provide for coalition politics (or rather the formation of issue-oriented collectives). Specifically, I am interested in how if we consider 'race' and 'gender' not as biological constructions but rather that they are social constructs and exist in a social formation supported by racist, sexist, heterosexist ideologies can we choose to identify ourselves racially or based on gender? I am not trying to make this identity discussion into a biological one, but to point out a constrain of identity politics. Also, I strongly believe that political essentialization is necessary at specific conjunctures but can the act of essentializing not limit the struggles and/or formation for a classless, democratic future. Peter Chua in Texas