identity politics
noun
plural in form but singular or plural in construction
: politics in which groups of people having a particular racial, religious, ethnic, social, or cultural identity tend to promote their own specific interests or concerns without regard to the interests or concerns of any larger political group
Although the UCLA center's standards promoted rigorous history, they set off a major culture war because of their relentless emphasis on identity politics.—
Diane Ravitch
Diane RavitchIdentity politics is contemporary shorthand for a group's assertion that it is a meaningful group; that it differs significantly from other groups; that its members share a history of injustice and grievance; and that its psychological and political mission is to explore, act out, act on and act up its group identity.—Catharine R. Stimpson
Catharine R. StimpsonA number of critics have viewed her work through a lens of identity politics, taking her to be some sort of oracle of Muslim womanhood.—Lauren Collins
Lauren CollinsExamples of identity politics in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Others objected to his support for openly gay conservatives or his unwillingness to fully endorse white identity politics.
—Jesus Mesa, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Sep. 2025
Mel Usine Before gaining post-grad experience in studios on both sides of the coast (Rodarte, Proenza Schouler and Gabriela Hearst), Mel Usine’s Stephen Biga majored in fashion design and culture & media at The New School with a concentration on identity politics and experimental cinema.
—Ari Stark, Footwear News, 9 Sep. 2025
Of course, there are differences over economic policies or city planning questions, but not much on identity politics.
—Kristen Edgreen Kaufman, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
The film touches on identity and even identity politics.
—Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 8 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for identity politics
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Jesus Mesa, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Sep. 2025
Mel Usine Before gaining post-grad experience in studios on both sides of the coast (Rodarte, Proenza Schouler and Gabriela Hearst), Mel Usine’s Stephen Biga majored in fashion design and culture & media at The New School with a concentration on identity politics and experimental cinema.
—Ari Stark, Footwear News, 9 Sep. 2025
Of course, there are differences over economic policies or city planning questions, but not much on identity politics.
—Kristen Edgreen Kaufman, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
The film touches on identity and even identity politics.
—Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 8 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for identity politics
Cite this Entry
“Identity politics.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/identity%20politics. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
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