How and when do people strategically deploy identities?

How and when do people strategically deploy identities?

In her paper, Mary Bernstein explores the development of gay and lesbian movements in the later parts of the 20th century in several locations, including NYC, Oregon, and Vermont. She analyzes the way that these movements operated and were organized; in New York, theatre and public spectacle were major elements of the fight for gay rights, while in parts of Oregon, a more traditional political route was employed. Bernstein then explores the different circumstances that led to these movements, including whether the local/state government was receptive to the ideas of gay/lesbian activists. Bernstein found that movements do not use the same tactics for their entire lifespan, but rather switch tactics and try new things to meet the moment. 

Bernstein's exploration of the different ways that identity is deployed in the context of a social/cultural movement is really interesting. The adaptive strategies that movements like the gay/lesbian rights movement had to employ in the pursuit of equal rights speaks to the idea that the same thing doesn't necessarily work everywhere. Activists have to play to their strengths - in Oregon, where some government elements were friendly or at least receptive to the plight of gays and lesbians, a more moderate and traditional political strategy (hiring a lobbyist and/or leaning on existing political connections) makes sense. In New York, where those activists dealt with what Bernstein calls a "closed polity", trying to lobby officials like the Oregonians did was almost certainly going to lead to failure, but the activists figured they could attract public support (or at least attention) through more visible tactics like "kiss-ins" and things of that nature, as Bernstein outlines. People strategically deploy identities when the opportunity for advancement of that identity is most favorable, and they do so in a manner that they believe will be the most effective (think identity for education vs. identity for critique). This applies specifically to people with identities that are marginalized or actively discriminated against, gay and lesbian activists in the 1960s-1980s (and thereafter) being a prime example. 

Though I do think Bernstein's work is applicable to her particular subject matter, I am not sure how her framework for understanding strategic deployment of identities applies to what we have seen recently with the BLM protests, which fall in the same vein as some of the protests Bernstein discusses (seeking legal protections under/from the state). On one hand, I'm sure some of the organizers have political considerations in mind and are engaging in strategic identity deployment, especially when they talk to the press - organizers do have some say in the way that a group is collectively portrayed. On the other hand, I have a hard time believing that most of the protestors are thinking about how their identity might be deployed when they go out and protest. Maybe I'm missing the point here, but are most of these protestors motivated by something other than anger, disgust, and fear surrounding the system of police brutality and killings/murders in America? 

Comments

  1. WilliamJune 18, 2020 at 12:45 PM

    Your comparison to BLM is interesting and warranted. My thought about your question is the following: 1. the LGBTQ collective action in Bernstein was relatively isolated and targeted and *somewhat* centrally organized. What I mean is that those involved in the movement in Oregon could conceivably develop a different strategy than those in Vermont and the messaging wouldn't really overlap.

    2. The LGBTQ collective action movements were less reliant on large scale protests and more reliant on smaller protests and targeted public commenting/collective action. Messaging at smaller events is easier to control.

    3. Communication was more difficult, which meant relying on organizers to get information. These organizers could selectively invite people to the action whom they knew would "go with the plan."

    What you might be missing in the BLM protests is some of the literature we will study next week on tipping models. BLM protests have been going on for years. Earlier in a collective action movement, it is important to mobilize people based on organization or by appealing to emotions or benefits or something else. This is because the effectiveness of these protests is influential to onlookers who are deciding whether to join. However, once a movement reaches a "tipping point," it takes much less effort to motivate people to attend (that is benefits are clearly higher than costs, even if costs are actually pretty high). When this is the case and movements get so large, people do not need to be thinking about deploying their identity when deciding to go to protests. Often social networks of friends who are going to a protest are enough.

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  2. Peter NetchvolodoffJune 18, 2020 at 12:48 PM

    How do you think the strategy behind preservationism of national parks relates to Bernstein's writing? Are there different strategies which would be deployed depending on the park's proximity to a city? I appreciated your writing. Your point about people activating identities at times where it is favorable is certainly true. I look forward to reading more of your blogs.

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