QS — Identity Issues in Post-Modernism and Wokeism

Groups within Western culture define their identities in countless ways, often blending shared history, values, and lived experiences into a unique sense of self. Here’s an overview of some of the major dimensions:

1. Ethnic and Cultural Identity: Groups like the French Canadians in Quebec, the Métis, or the Irish diaspora often maintain distinct languages, traditions, and cultural celebrations as ways of preserving and asserting their identity.
2. LGBTQIA+ and Sexual Orientation: Communities like those identifying as LGBTQIA+ emphasize pride and visibility, with symbols like the rainbow flag and events like Pride parades reflecting their shared identity and activism for equal rights.
3. Political Affiliation: Political groups range widely, from conservative to progressive, with identities often rooted in shared ideologies, goals, or opposition to certain policies. Social movements, such as environmental activists or labor unions, also carve out distinct identities.
4. Religious and Faith Communities: Christianity, Judaism, Islam, and other faiths have distinct denominational groups that emphasize shared beliefs, rituals, and moral codes. For instance, Mennonites or Hutterites in Canada retain particular religious and cultural practices that set them apart.
5. Intersectional Identities: Many groups combine multiple aspects of identity. For example, Black feminists or queer Indigenous activists may draw from their race, gender, or sexual identity, as well as cultural or historical experiences.
6. Regional or National Identity: Groups may define themselves based on their region or nation. For example, Western Canadians versus Eastern Canadians often emphasize differing historical or economic experiences.

These various identities often coexist and overlap, highlighting the rich diversity within Western culture.

The drive for distinct group identities within Western culture is strongly linked to postmodernism, though it isn’t exclusively a postmodern phenomenon. Postmodernism, which emerged in the mid-20th century, challenged universal or “grand” narratives, such as overarching ideas of progress or singular definitions of truth, and instead emphasized plurality, diversity, and the subjective nature of human experience.

Here’s how this phenomenon ties into postmodernism:

1. Rejection of Universality: Postmodernism questions the idea of a single, dominant cultural identity. This aligns with the push by various groups—ethnic minorities, LGBTQIA+ communities, and others—to assert their own unique identities rather than conform to a homogenized culture.
2. Focus on Subjectivity: Postmodern thought places value on individual and group-specific perspectives. This has encouraged communities to express their own histories, values, and struggles as central to their identities.
3. Deconstruction of Power Structures: Postmodernism is critical of traditional power hierarchies. Identity movements often reflect this by challenging dominant norms, whether related to gender, sexuality, ethnicity, or religion.
4. Intersectionality: The postmodern emphasis on complexity and interconnection resonates with how many contemporary identity groups frame their experiences—through the lens of intersectionality, acknowledging that multiple aspects of identity (e.g., race, gender, class) intersect in shaping lives.

That said, identity-building predates postmodernism. Historical examples, such as the French Canadians’ efforts to preserve their culture or religious communities maintaining distinct identities, existed long before postmodern ideas took hold. However, postmodernism provided an intellectual framework that amplified and legitimized these diverse expressions of identity in contemporary society.