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Cate's avatar

You’re so right about the irony here- the comparatively abstract, self-oriented ‘battles’ of identity politics which were taken up as central (perceived harm, hurt feelings, micro aggressions in meetings, etc) when the wolf really was at the door - it seemed to me then and now that in a world of power and privilege, people were desperate to find something to feel victimised about so that they too could be championed as social justice warriors, hence the massaging up of grievance and claims of harm and struggle. When these things got attention and time in the spotlight, they were not just legitimised and politicised, but incentivised (and of course in a society obsessed with power and prestige, monetised). And as you point out, the real oppression gets elbowed out of the spotlight so that the competitive ‘arms race’ of performed outrage and silencing of others can proceed. But how woefully inadequate this garnishing of ‘identity’ turns out to be when it comes to real life political power moves, when the pendulum swings!

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Maureen Sullivan's avatar

Yes! I miss actual conversations with those who are not and those who are “my people.” Thanks for your keen insight.

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