Navigating Multiple Identities: The Simultaneous Influence of Advantaged and Disadvantaged Identities on Politicization and Activism

Abstract

Most identity-based models of activism assume that action is motivated either by a disadvantaged identity (predicting own-group activism), or a feeling of solidarity with disadvantaged groups (predicting ally activism). They do not account for advantaged and disadvantaged identifications within the same person. Yet many activists have both advantaged and disadvantaged identities. Two interview studies from Hungary and the United States (N = 47) were used to examine how both disadvantaged and advantaged identities influence politicization and activism (both own-group and ally), via both direct and indirect experiences of marginalization and privilege. We also discuss the emergence of new identities from activist engagements and how such new activist identities recursively influence activism and politicization. We conclude our analysis by arguing that identity-based organizations may be more successful emphasizing multiple and intersecting identities and the structural aspects of disadvantages rather than singular disadvantaged identities.Every activist has a personal story about becoming an activist and what their activism means to them. These stories may capture important common themes that allow us to better understand the development of political identities, as well as

An integrated developmental model for studying identity content in context.

“…Even more proximally, each individual negotiates multiple aspects of identity within particular domains, the third level, and in the contexts of their everyday experiences, the fourth level, all with the challenge of creating a sense of self that feels coherent and whole both across and within these levels (Klein, Spears, & Reicher, 2007). Some authors describe this negotiation as the task of integrating or managing multiple identities (e.g., Curtin, Kende, & Kende, 2016;Kang & Bodenhausen, 2015); however, in this model, we will use the term "identity" to capture the integrated, contextualized, holistic sense of self, which is comprised of numerous aspects of self.…”

National Identification Counteracts the Sedative Effect of Positive Intergroup Contact on Ethnic Activism

“…Individual upward mobility from a discriminated group to another more privileged one is another (see Tausch et al, 2015). Furthermore, recent studies on negative identity management have proposed that disadvantaged ethnic minority members cope by “navigating” multiple group identities (e.g., Curtin et al, 2016). Multiple identities are described in those studies as resources, not replacing, but rather repositioning and reinterpreting the disadvantaged (ethnic) identity in light of other group memberships.…”

Intraminority Support for and Participation in Race-Based Collective Action Movements: An Intersectional Perspective

“…Much of the research on race-based ally work examines the engagement of White people with social justice efforts for racial minorities (Curtin et al, 2016;DeTurk, 2011), though a few recent studies have moved towards also examining intraminority allyship (Brown & Ostrove, 2013;Droogendyk, Wright, Lubensky, & Louis, 2016). By including White participants in the analyses, this study adds to the growing literature on White allyship and the predictive factors of White engagement with movements towards racial justice.…”

“…There are two assumptions of identity-based models of social activism: 1) that motivations are based on one's own relevant disadvantaged identity in the context and 2) the previously mentioned feelings of coalition with other groups who face similar disadvantage are present (Curtin, Kende, & Kende, 2016). However, taking an intersectional approach to motivations for activism, it is also important to consider the influence of those who hold both advantaged and disadvantaged identities simultaneously, such as being both Black and a man.…”

“…However, taking an intersectional approach to motivations for activism, it is also important to consider the influence of those who hold both advantaged and disadvantaged identities simultaneously, such as being both Black and a man. Qualitative interviews conducted in both the Unites States and in Hungary have demonstrated that ally activism is fostered by both holding a disadvantaged and advantaged identity, as does awareness of one's own relative privilege (Curtin et al, 2016).…”