I’m trying to work through this concept of “Identify.” What does it mean to “identify” as something? I noticed Colin Wright asking the same question:
Colin Wright:
I’ve still yet to hear a coherent definition of “identity” in the “I identify as ____” sense. I’m not convinced anybody knows what they’re talking about. I think we’d all be a lot better off if we just buried that term and used a few more words to communicate an actual thought.
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I’m an atheist. I don’t “identify” as an atheist, I simply am one because I don’t believe in God. I’m a biologist. I don’t “identify” as a biologist, I simply am one because that’s what I studied. I am straight. I don’t “identify” as straight, I am simply attracted to females.
Where does “identity” come into it? Is it just the sum total of my experiences, behavioral tendencies, personality, beliefs, likes & dislikes? Well that seems infinitely complex and impossible to label.
“Identity” seems entirely meaningless and unnecessary. What am I missing?
Erich Vieth: [This is a work in progress.]
My take. When someone “identities” as a X, they like to think of themselves as an X and they expect others to nod complete uncritical agreement and pretend that it always denotes real world accomplishment, though it’s often faux heroism or a cheap signal of tribal membership.
Someone might say, “I go to A.A. meetings. My name is ______, I’m an alcoholic.”
In that case what a person might mean is that they consider the quasi-religious process of recovery a big part of who they are or how they see themselves and how they live.”
Yet, even in this borderline case, most 12 Steppers would simply say, “I’m an alcoholic. I drank, and now i don’t drink.”
If someone said, “I identify as a Catholic” one would think that they were putting distance between Catholicism and themselves by saying “I identify as a Catholic” instead of merely saying “I’m a Catholic.”
The “I identify” rubric keeps one from having any responsibility to show that he is objectively what he says he is.
When someone says “I identify” as a Jew or a Catholic, it’s really understood to mean he doesn’t often go to Temple or Mass but nonetheless, he likes to think of himself as Jewish or Catholic in some vague, cultural way.
Now, if someone said, in the current political environment, “I identify as a Republican” we know that they feel that they would be an active Republican were it not for Trump.
So, the “I identify” phrase isn’t always empty of meaning but for the most part it is meant to cloud thinking.
“I identify as” is similar to “race relations.” What the heck is “race relations” and how does one’s “race relations” get better or worse due to statements or actions by various people?