HAVE YOU heard? A woman or an African-American will likely be the next president of the United States. Don't we just feel so damn good about ourselves? It seems journalists never tire of stating the obvious, nor do Americans at large fail to give themselves self-congratulatory pats on the back whenever they consider the options for the Democratic nominee. This race has spiraled into a battle of identity politics: woman vs. man, black vs. white, older generation vs. new generation. Although in the shorter term this style of politics is beneficial for the demographics in question, ultimately identity politics is the proverbial wolf in sheep's clothing.
At its best, playing gender and race cards in this election mobilizes demographics that generally don't bother with electoral politics. A high turnout of women resurrected Hillary Clinton in New Hampshire and may well carry her through the nomination and even the general election. If you are an older woman in any of the Super Tuesday states, expect about 4 phone calls before noon.
Similarly, the African-American turnout in the South Carolina primary was unprecedented and indeed shocking. The decisive victory Barack Obama scored there showed that not even the Clintons can count on the black vote. Many commentators believe that the unpredictable black turnout today may be the voting bloc that decides who wins the nomination. Regardless, minority and traditionally marginalized groups should not revel in this sort ofattention. It's little more than slightly veiled stereotyping, and it certainly is not benign. When campaigning for Clinton in South Carolina, the volunteers had one set of literature to hand out to black people and another set to hand out to white people. It was uncomfortable, to say the least. For proponents of identity politics, this certainly cannot seem like the finish line.
By framing this election as the potential triumph of a black man or a woman, it could also anesthetize future activism on behalf of these exploited groups. Some people, already suspicious of these civil rights movements, may feel like they can now wash their hands of racial and gender discrimination if one of them wins the presidency. Needless to say though, electing a black man as president does not at all end the struggles faced by the average black person. Nor will electing Hillary Clinton spell the end of problems like the gender gap in wages.
Above all, "identity" politics doesn't even make sense to many groups of people. Black women are one of the most interesting demographics to watch in this election.Both Clinton and Obama supporters make them feel like they're not loyal if they vote for the other candidate, as if presidential politics were just a game of herding sheep. But in fact, many factors contribute to a person's identity: race, class, gender, sexual orientation, etc. And in our complex world, the list continues to grow. To try to divine how millions of black women will vote is as futile as it is disrespectful.
I grit my teeth as I write this, but the discourse surrounding this nomination is not fair to white men. Elizabeth Edwards voiced some white men's latent resentment when she quipped, "We can't make John black, we can't make him a woman." Identity politics continues to marginalize minority and traditionally oppressed groups by ignoring the potential allies many white men are. By pitting groups against one another based on qualities people cannot change, the rhetoric of identity politics is simply self-destructive.
As a young woman supporting Hillary Clinton, I understand how inspiring it is to see someone that looks like you running for the highest political office in the country. To honor full disclosure, I do daydream about being able to tell my future daughter I helped elect the first woman president. But let's not forget the ultimate goal of identity politics: reaching the point when all people are treated like equal human beings, deserving of rights and respect for individual autonomy. As long as political strategists think they can predict a person's vote based on race or gender, we're not there yet.
Marta Cook's column appears Tuesdays in The Cavalier Daily. She can be reached at mcook@cavalierdaily.com.
Read More
EDITORIAL: Signing off from the 135th term
By Editorial Board | YesterdayAt the end of our term, we thought it fitting to share with you which of our 28 editorials have been our favorites.
WILLIAMS: From deepfakes to ChatGPT, AI can ruin us
By Ryan Williams | 5 days agoIt is crucial for us to reevaluate our personal reliance on AI and begin understanding how it acts as a problematic shortcut.
ELJAZZAR: Advising changes are a step toward student success
By Farah Eljazzar | December 10, 2024With the long history of student complaints regarding advising in the College, it is commendable that the University administration is committed to responding to student concerns and prioritizing student academic well-being.
