How and when do people strategically deploy identities?

    Bernstein’s “Celebration and Suppression” uncovers why minorities shift from focusing on differences with the majority

to similarities. She claims that this strategy is based off of social movement organizations and the type of government and

opposition the minority faces. She later classifies social movements and the different types of dimensions which helps the

reader understand when and how these movements are deployed and placed. Including many examples, Bernstein shows

how these movements can transform mainstream culture, as well as the values of legislators and bystanders. 

    When first thinking of the answer to this question, the larger and more dramatic social movements were being used as

examples. However, Bernstein mentions that not every revolution or social change needs to be grand or profound to gain

new recruits and momentum. This made me take a step back and think that the first and most important part of this strategic

deployment is the likelihood of policy change. By allowing others to participate and feel entitled to power and change through

these doable political strategies, policy change and people’s willingness to show their identities will come easier. 

    While classifying social movements Bernstein mentions the “logic of action”. Whether a person participates or takes action

due to internal or external reasons. This means a lot of actions are categorized and defined by shared characteristics. To

me it would seem that these movements are more easily deployed and attended by individuals when it revolves around those

more defining and unifying characteristics such as ethnicity or race. These movements revolving around hot topic attributes

have always been occurring, or have always been more noticed and dominated the media. Is this because these parts of our

identification more easily fit into Bernstein’s three analytical levels of the concept of identity? Or is it because ethnicity or sex

is easier to rally around and embrace these differences in the beginning of movements? With a shared identity these

characteristics can lead to goals of social change through activism, and these expressions of shared characteristics can be

deployed as a group leading to collective action. 

    It is also important to look at the different dimensions of identity Bernstein listed because these are used to create different

goals and approaches for change. The lesbian and gay movement took the shape of all three dimensions over time. Is it

common for these larger, more participated and successful movements to be able to make identity empowering, but also

a strategy and goal? 

    When relating this reading to current events today I feel as if more movements now are for education and critique. Bernstein

calls this a mixed model. With more platforms to speak on and more coethnic leaders representing and knowing their constituents'

values and identity, mixed models can become more of a reality. These movements can not only challenge the majority’s

perception of the minority, but also make the majority reassess and reevaluate their culture as well as their values. I think this is

important to making quicker policy changes to our mainstream and dominant society. Educating and encouraging participation

for bystanders, while also fighting for new policies.