Identity politics and feminism in France and in the United States

Résumé du document

In 2005, in her book entitled Beyond identity politics – feminism, power and politics, Moya Lloyd writes: “feminism is an identity politics” so far as “it articulates the demands of a particular constituency (women), united and galvanized on the basis of shared characteristics and experience” . To understand and analyze or criticize this assertion and to comprehend the link between feminism and identity politics, it is necessary to understand what feminism and identity politics are. Feminism is defined by the Cambridge dictionary as “the belief that women should have the same economic, social, and political rights as men” . Besides, identity politics is defined by Joan Mandle as an “action to advance the interests of members of a group supposed to be oppressed by virtue of a shared and marginalized identity (such as race or gender)” . This essay aims at understanding the link between the two notions. It deals with feminism and identity politics in the United States and in France. Even if identity politics is a concept much more relevant in the Anglo-Saxon world than in France, as attested by the fact that there is no real equivalent of the notion in French, we will try to make a comparison between the two countries.

Extraits

[...] For instance, a Black lesbian feminism appeared in the United States. It is important to underline that all these identity movements have been still very strong in American university or college campuses. Hence, in the United States, there are relatively small places where all identity claims are concentrated. This is particularly ironic that so many splits are occurring in universities and colleges at a moment when real differences between students are less striking than ever in the past. Actually, American society is today culturally very homogeneous, as almost all the students who attend college grow up in similar circumstances (watching the same television programs, listening to the same music, shopping at the same malls Specific feminist identity groups in France Recently in France, women with several oppressed identities also formed specific identity politics groups. [...]

[...] Nevertheless, going too far with identity politics leads to many splits and can be negative for women. By always stressing the characteristics which divide women, the logic of identity politics ultimately leads to a situation where each woman is her own group. Indeed, each woman has a unique identity. Thus, it is probably preferable for women to coexist in groups that consider all the divergent identities instead of creating multiple conflicting movements. Bibliography: Books Moya LLOY, Beyond identity politics feminism, power and politics, Sage publications Elizabeth CADY STANTON, Eighty years and more. [...]

[...] This kind of identity politics is still closely related to feminism insofar as it seeks to secure the rights of some women. These women are sometimes considered as being in an “intersectional positions”. Indeed, the intersectionalist theory points out that the classical forms of oppression, based on ethnicity, nationality, gender, sexual orientation, religion, class, disability or age do not act independently from one another. Instead, these models of oppression are interrelated and create a system of oppression which reflects the "intersection" of several forms of discrimination. [...]

[...] However, according to Mikaila Arthur, “this fragmentation counters the original point of identity politics, which is to encourage recognition of the vast numbers of people who share identities that are outside the mainstream”[9]. Thus, we can wonder whether very specific identity politics and identity politics in general, are a good way to secure women's interests. III- Is Identity politics a good way to defend women's interests? Advocates of feminist identity politics claim that women can only fight for their rights if they are united in a group. Alone, a woman does not have any influence. [...]

[...] Those engaged in identity politics also reckon that discrimination can only be overwhelmed by paying attention to the oppressed difference. The proponents of more specific feminist identity politics argue that these different and multiple identity groups within feminism can provide consciousness-raising and support to those who get involved in them, and who therefore feel oppressed. Moreover, they can educate other communities; for example when lesbians of color ask for acceptance and equality within their respective racial communities, even as they claim their identities as lesbians. [...]