Companion Lectures For Progressive Community Organizing in a Globalizing World By Loretta Pyles Copyright © 2014, Loretta Pyles. From Progressive Community Organizing: Reflective Practice in a Globalizing World, 2 nd Edition, by Loretta Pyles. New York: Routledge.

Chapter 10 Identity politics Identity politics involves diverse groups of marginalized individuals forging their own place in the public sphere, authentically expressing visions of participatory democracy Identity politics refers to a wide range of political activity and theorizing founded in the shared experiences of injustice of members of certain racial, ethnic, sexual orientation and other social groups Rather than organizing solely around geography/place, ideology or party affiliation, identity politics typically concerns the liberation of a specific self-identified constituency marginalized within the larger societal context Copyright © 2014, Loretta Pyles. From Progressive Community Organizing: Reflective Practice in a Globalizing World, 2 nd Edition, by Loretta Pyles. New York: Routledge.

Chapter 10 oppression and liberation Five faces of oppression (Young, 1990) Exploitation Marginalization Powerlessness Cultural imperialism Violence This oppression happens to people who are perceived to be “other,” different from individuals who fit into the dominant paradigm Many have critiqued a narrative and ideal of justice that conceptualizes liberation as the transcendence of difference, or the ideal of assimilation, instead affirming difference Copyright © 2014, Loretta Pyles. From Progressive Community Organizing: Reflective Practice in a Globalizing World, 2 nd Edition, by Loretta Pyles. New York: Routledge.

Chapter 10 effects of systemic oppression Internalized oppression – Originates from pervasive negative cultural messages and mistreatment toward a person because of who she or he is as a part of a group. Internalized oppression – Originates from pervasive negative cultural messages and mistreatment toward a person because of who she or he is as a part of a group. Horizontal Hostility – Striking out against one’s own community or other oppressed group because of internalized hatred Horizontal Hostility – Striking out against one’s own community or other oppressed group because of internalized hatred Identification with Power – Making the politics of domination work by identifying with those in power Identification with Power – Making the politics of domination work by identifying with those in power Copyright © 2014, Loretta Pyles. From Progressive Community Organizing: Reflective Practice in a Globalizing World, 2 nd Edition, by Loretta Pyles. New York: Routledge.

Chapter 10 a path to solidarity A “politics of coalition,” i.e., unity that is grounded in difference, rather than sameness, advocates for a relational politics of dialogue, or what Morales (1998) calls a “politics of inclusion” Some authors have identified the idea of “strategic essentialism” (Spivak, 1995) or “tactical fixedness” (Dominelli, 2002), pointing out that, while identity is obviously socially constructed and fluid, it can be tactically fixed to achieve specific aims Copyright © 2014, Loretta Pyles. From Progressive Community Organizing: Reflective Practice in a Globalizing World, 2 nd Edition, by Loretta Pyles. New York: Routledge.

Chapter 10 on being an ally: some critical questions What am I doing to develop honest relationships across barriers of race, class, gender, and cultural backgrounds? In what way am I acknowledging and addressing the problems within my own community with which I identify? How will actions of people of privilege contribute to changing society in a way that transforms oppression What does commitment to solidarity with oppressed people really look like in my life? (Gelderloos, 2005) Copyright © 2014, Loretta Pyles. From Progressive Community Organizing: Reflective Practice in a Globalizing World, 2 nd Edition, by Loretta Pyles. New York: Routledge.