The Case Against Woke-ism: Why Identity Politics Falls Short
Woke culture has emerged as a popular discourse, promising to address societal injustices in ways traditional equality allegedly cannot. For its supporters, existing approaches to achieving equal rights and opportunities are dismissed as distractions that fail to address the root causes of discrimination.
Identity Over Individuality
Even neutral laws—like those protecting freedom of speech—are criticised for sustaining the marginalisation of minority groups. Instead, the woke movement choses identity categories such as race, gender, and sexual orientation as central to understanding social reality. Identities, and the distinctions between them, are portrayed as the most vital tools for navigating and shaping our society.
In the world of woke equality, identity takes precedence over individuality. This is problematic. Advocates of the woke movement loosely argue that achieving true equality requires treating people based on the identity groups they belong to. This may even involve treating marginalised groups differently in public policies and social practices, reconsidering foundational principles like freedom and fairness under the law. Woke ideology frames identity not just as a personal facet of one’s life but as the primary lens for all social interactions.
Dangerous Identity Divisions
The woke movement claims that drawing distinctions based on identity is not only necessary but desirable. Supposedly, categorising people into identity groups highlights the intersecting forms of discrimination faced by marginalised populations. Yet this assumption comes with serious risks.
Categorising individuals into rigid identity groups can foster division rather than unity. History shows that when identity becomes the centre of ideological narratives, it often leads to exclusionary and even harmful practices. Think of far-right movements, but also the broader human tendency to marginalise those seen as “others.”
Certainly, there’s value in recognising shared and unique experiences of discrimination across various social groups. However, the identity-driven framework of woke-ism often pits groups against one another, fostering a sense of competition for recognition and resources. This zero-sum mindset conveys a discouraging message: people from different identity groups are fundamentally unable to understand each other. Such a narrative not only deepens divisions but also undermines efforts to build coalitions across identities—efforts that are crucial for addressing the tangible outcomes of discrimination and achieving equality.
You are who we say you are!
The woke movement ties belonging and social recognition to fixed identity categories. This may resonate with those who define themselves primarily by the characteristics they were born with. But for others, this approach feels alienating. It forces people into rigid categories that often create stark divisions between “haves” and “have-nots.” In this worldview, identity isn’t just a way of understanding society—it becomes a non-negotiable framework for how one must engage with it. Those who resist these rigid categories often face backlash, accused of betraying their ‘assigned’ identity group.
What’s most troubling about this shift is how it often diminishes the importance of individual experiences in the fight against discrimination. Instead, the focus turns to broader, identity-based narratives that can overshadow the nuance and diversity of personal stories. This risks undermining the role of individualism in creating truly inclusive communities—communities that respect and value all members regardless of their race, gender, or sexual orientation.
Belonging is more than Identity
The solution isn’t to ignore identity altogether but to move beyond identity-based divisions. By focusing on shared humanity and collective action, we can foster a broader sense of belonging that goes beyond rigid categories used by the woke movement to define experiences of discrimination.
Woke-ism’s focus on identity politics may seem compelling, but in practice, it risks deepening divides rather than bridging them. To truly address the injustices of our world, we need an approach that uplifts everyone—not just their identity groups.