The Identity Politics
D. The Identity Politics
The term identity politics has always been related to widespread movements. Although identity politics has loose collection of political projects, identity politics fits into political landscape which is usually signified by the existence of mobilization or movements (www.plato.stanford.edu/entries/identity- politics/). At general understanding, identity politics is described as identity claims which have empowering purposes by political activists. Theoretically, the identity politics is mapping the condition of American society especially the Chicanos within socio-cultural context such as in the process of identity formation.
Charles Hale (1997) defined separately between identity and politics to ground the basic understanding of identity politics, “identities as performative
acts, politics as purely discursive battles versus hard-bitten calls for a return to the fundamental role of class struggle” (p.570). In other words, identities are seen as
expression of the self by observing or seeing the differences among others. Politics indicate power relation which includes struggle as the fundamental focus in it. Therefore, politics is seen more as practice. Bernstein (2005) stated that the term identity politics is not always related to the 1960‟s movements since it is already widely used in social science and humanities in order to describe expression of the self by observing or seeing the differences among others. Politics indicate power relation which includes struggle as the fundamental focus in it. Therefore, politics is seen more as practice. Bernstein (2005) stated that the term identity politics is not always related to the 1960‟s movements since it is already widely used in social science and humanities in order to describe
which set a basic concept of identity politics. That is the relation with social movements during the 1960‟s which was continued to happen in the following years after the 1960‟s.
According to Bernstein theory, identity politics is a distinct political practice which differs from class politics (Bernstein, 2005). What it is meant by class politics here is the mobilization used to achieve economical change/economic status in societies; that is why class politics conceptualizes struggle for the economic benefits and related with economic institution. In contrast to that, identities concept in identity politics are viewed based on social rather than economic status; in this sense, identities do not have any economic institution or goals on economic aspects. The identity claims are all associated with social id entities and perceived as “cultural politics” which is equated with identity politics. Identity politics also describes any mobilization related to politics, culture, and identities; and there is a relationship between identities and politics which is basically related with culture (Bernstein, 2005).
In greater emphasis, identity politics is the theoretical way to view how political activisms including the members identify differences and “traditional
values” in order to promote and explore their cultural identity. Rather than accepting the identities created by the Anglos, ones rebel and transform sense of
understanding their distinctiveness as their cultural identity. The crucial point in the identity politics is that the members of social group recognize and share the commonality of same experiences which grow their consciousness that they are „different‟ from other groups. The shared experiences may include oppression, injustice, same (cultural) background, etc. “They acknowledge that cultural differences among groups are socially constructed, resulting from shared histories of oppression” (Bernstein, 2005, p.50). Because of this shared histories as their group identities, they support for recognition and respect for their cultural differences.
This cultural recognition will validate their identities; and marginalized culture forms the basis for their identity groups. However, this cultural recognition is then often assumed mis takenly as “culture for politics” which means they use culture as power to get their basic rights. Therefore, some scholars also equate identity politics with cultural politics. Bernstein makes clear about cultural politics: “The belief that identity itself-its elaboration, expression, or affirmation- is and should be fundamental focus of political work” (Bernstein, 2005, p.54).
From this point, it can be understood that identity politics has cultural dimension and meanings which conceptualize power to achieve traditional
political goals such as “nation building” or “taking power” (Hale, 1997). In this sense, identity politics views the mobilization as a process in creating identities.
still in a process of construct. Identities, as stated by Hale (1997), are bound with nationality, race, and ethnicity (p.574). Therefore, identities promoted in the movement explore cultural aspects and traditional values.
Through the movements, it grew the consciousness of the significance of identities and empowered others who did not join the movement. The members of social group began to trace back what elements that define their identities. Thus, the movements construct and promote identities even though the goals may not always be supporting identities but it is the identity that makes them gain recognition; that is the identity which defines their movements. Like what happened in the 1960‟s towards Chicanos, Political Movements by Chicanos was erupted by the leading action of Cesar Chaves, the representation from working class Chicanos. They initially rebelled for being exploited by U.S government; they struggled for same treatment without any discrimination. At the beginning, this mobilization was like representation of working class people, but finally it gathered people from the same cultural background, namely Chicanos. It was not promoting and bringing up Chicano identities in the movements, but at the end this movements implied the emphasis on Chicano identities to be recognized.
To the extent that the movements made obvious about identity politics, at the same time writers of the era made identity politics seemed contemporary. For instance, Rudolfo Anaya whose narration presented cultural realities and truth based of traditional point of view in order to assert Chicano identities and their To the extent that the movements made obvious about identity politics, at the same time writers of the era made identity politics seemed contemporary. For instance, Rudolfo Anaya whose narration presented cultural realities and truth based of traditional point of view in order to assert Chicano identities and their
Cultural differences of Chicanos with other groups were seen as the symbol of their identity. Through this point, they celebrated their lineage of being Chicano and traditional values which then became their emphasis on creating identity of Chicano. Although their aim was to seek justice, but the basis was promoting identities. Additionally, identities gave them power in gaining political position in the U.S, in example not being exploited, deserving the same treatment for public facilities, decent living, etc. Thus, identities are the strategic process to get political change. The long process in achieving political goals, identities have been formed through the mobilization/activism and this pivotal key becomes the emphasis of why this identity politics theory is employed in the research.