This class talks a lot about identities, and how one's individual identity can hold more or less power over others than some. When reading "Be Longing: Toward a Feminist Politics of Relation", she says "I am advocating a shift from a notion of identity that begins with "I"- as does the inscription "I-dentity," which announces "I am..."- to a sense of "self" that is radically inclined towards others, towards the communities of which we belong, with whom we long to be, and to whom we feel accountable" (Carrillo-Rowe, 18). This statement really makes you step out of your skin for a second to recognize that we are walking representations at all times of whatever groups we naturally or self-identify with.
When reading this proposed idea, I immediately think of political parties. Nowadays, I think especially much of the younger generations tend to fall a little bit more moderately or at least attempt to see both sides of the story. We're sick of all this fighting and recognize the need for cooperation and empathy in politics to be productive. For example, we hear the term "fiscally conservative, socially liberal". If you identify as conservative, people assume you completely back everything Trump said and stands for, and vice versa for democrats with those leaders. When in reality, that's just one person that was elected to lead half the country so there of course are a million things followers will disagree with. But it goes back to Carrillo-Rowe's idea that whatever you identify as, is more than about you it's about the broader group you're accountable to.
Rowe, Aimee Marie Carrillo. “Be Longing: Toward a Feminist Politics of Relation.” Feminist Formations, vol. 17, no. 2, 2005, pp. 15–46.
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