It is one of the most paradoxical things that the word children is the most modern word used for offspring. In many non-Western societies it is still believed that “your child will always remain a child for you as the parent, even if he/she gets 60 years old”. This belief is not an expression of parently love, but of sad social conditions in which the rights of an adult individual are much less worth than the interests of the family. The usage of the word children when referring to adult offspring originates from ideologies which granted the male head of the family (the patriarch) or those representing him (including females) the right to determine the life of his children, even after they became adults. The Mafia families are examples of how such beliefs and family systems (did) function.
Using the word children for both younger and adult offspring originates from the denial of individual rights in “tribal” societies. But even in today’s liberal world, when so many people are experimenting with gender and sexuality related wor(l)ds, it seems that children are still the most ignored social group.
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Though at times, I, like many others, feel fed up with some aspects of identity politics, on the whole, I think it is a positive phenomenon and a step towards more individualisation. At the heart of identity politics lies the individual. Identity politics begins with questioning social identities, particularly forced identities, and promoting chosen identities. Its main aim can be regarded as liberating the individual from social oppression.
The self is not a predestined entity anymore, and everyone is encouraged to question his/her own identity and to ask himself/herself “Who am I?”. For many critics, exactly this aspect of identity politics is a proof that it tries to distract people from “real” political problems, by diverting their attention to themselves. However, the question “Who am I?” is not only a psychological or philosophical question, but more importantly a political one too. By questioning our own identity, we also question social relations and norms. By becoming aware of our wishes, desires, expectations, and our current social position we become also aware of those social forces which oppress our “true” identity, and we develop an awareness of our rights. Identity politics encourages us to fight for our own rights as individuals, even in cases where we may get persecuted or may have to give up many of our oppressing social relationships such as those family relationships and friendships which do not allow us to be ourselves.
Though it is the individual who lies at the heart of identity politics, it will have far-reaching effects both at micro- and macro-level reshaping the society and all its political, economic and social institutions.
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Interestingly, individualism and the individualisation process emerged approximately at the same time as labour processes became more and more individualised (i.e. as the division of labour enormously increased because of industrialisation).
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