Identity Politics

Identity politics are political movements and positions based on the cultural, ethnic, gender, racial, religious, or social interests and perspectives that characterize a group identity. Typically, these groups aim to establish ways of understanding their uniqueness and to secure the political freedom. (Heyes, 2002)
Until the nineteenth century, the words heterosexual and homosexual did not exist. From 1860 the world of erotica started to develop, the human body became more associated with pleasure, and sexual experiences began to be documented and named. Books, films, newspapers with sexual contents became available for sale. By the 1880s, doctors started defining new idea of male-female relationships, propagandizing healthy libido and prescribing new sexual ethics. From 1892 to 1900 the idea of heterosexuality and homosexuality was formulated by the U.S doctors. (Ferber, p55)
Regarding ethnic groups, one of the first definitions of ethnic group were described by Max Weber in the nineteenth century as one of "those human groups that entertain a subjective belief in their common descent because of similarities of physical type or of customs or both, or because of memories of colonization and migration; conversely, it does not matter whether or not an objective blood relationship exists." He also, discounted biological explanation for racial conflict and highlighted the social and political factors instead. (Ferber, p 68) I think it is true, because some people will assume that person would have certain stereotypical characteristic based on their ethnicity background. For example, cold war between Americans and Soviets was over almost 30 years ago and still both countries keep stereotyping each other. It surprises me how people assume certain things when they find out that I am from Russia. For example, even my husband was joking how I might be a Russian spy. I think identity politics is very important to such multicultural country like America. It will help to understand and respect other people believes and lifestyles and avoid conflicts in the future.