Disidentification
Disidentification is a concept that describes the process by which individuals from racial or ethnic groups distance themselves from the identities imposed on them by dominant cultures. This phenomenon often arises when members of marginalized communities seek to dissociate from negative stereotypes associated with their ethnic or racial group. For instance, a Chinese American might prefer to identify simply as an "American" rather than aligning with broader Asian American identities, reflecting a desire to escape damaging preconceptions. Psychologist Claude M. Steele has noted that such disidentification can particularly affect academic performance, as individuals may fear the repercussions of negative stereotypes related to their group.
Research has demonstrated that exposure to harmful stereotypes can foster feelings of shame among individuals, leading to further disconnection from their cultural identities. Notably, José Esteban Muñoz's work in "Disidentifications: Queers of Color and the Performance of Politics" illustrates the complexities of this experience, particularly in the context of queer artists of color, showing that disidentification can transcend issues of race and ethnicity. Furthermore, disidentification may occur in immigrant communities, where individuals feel a disconnect with the values of their host nation, particularly if their religious beliefs differ. Overall, disidentification highlights the intricate relationship between identity, societal expectations, and the impact of stereotypes on personal and collective self-perception.
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Disidentification
The notion of disidentification stems from a racial or ethnic group’s not wanting to be associated with the group with which the dominant group identifies them. For example, a Chinese American may not want to be identified with other Asian Americans or Chinese Americans but be seen as an “American.” Disidentification, which has also been referred to as dissonance and disassociation, stems from ethnic group members’ needs to distance themselves from negative stereotypes of their ethnic or racial group. Claude M. Steele, a psychologist at Stanford University, has stated that negative stereotypes about the intellectual abilities of women and ethnically marginalized individuals cause academic disidentification. Women and ethnically marginalized individuals distance themselves from their own groups for fear of being harmed by damaging stereotypes. Yen Le Espiritu and Mary Danico, in separate studies respectively, found that continued exposure of second-generation Filipino Americans and Korean Americans to negative ethnic stereotypes created a sense of ethnic shame that caused them to distance themselves from other Filipino and Korean Americans. A negative image or stereotype of an ethnic or racially marginalized group can create a need for members of the group to distance themselves from their group and subsequently no longer identify themselves as a part of the group.
In 1999, José Esteban Muñoz wrote a seminal text on disidentification through a marginalized lens titled Disidentifications: Queers of Color and the Performance of Politics. Through the analysis of marginalized performance artists, Muñoz highlighted the ambivalence of marginalized groups on dominant culture and pointed out the disidentification some artists endure ifor their work to become popularized. Muñoz's work established that disidentification could stem beyond race and ethnicity.
Immigrant communities can also experience disidentification with host nations, especially those whose religion differs from that of the host nation. In one study that focused on Muslim Turkish immigrants to Germany and the Netherlands, researchers found that disidentification often results from perceived incompatibilities between the values and beliefs of the individual and the nation.
Bibliography
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