Essentialism
This concept has various definitions. For example, in education it refers to thoroughly instilling in students basic or core knowledge and skills by means of a teacher-centered pedagogy. In philosophy, the concept refers the idea that all objects possess properties that are essential to their existence (that is without these properties they would no longer be the objects they are supposed to be). Essentialism also refers to a lifestyle that emphasizes minimalism; that is one that is based on focusing on what is really important and giving up on what is not (the idea is to do more by means of less).
This concept has various definitions. For example, in education it refers to thoroughly instilling in students basic or core knowledge and skills by means of a teacher-centered pedagogy. In philosophy, the concept refers the idea that all objects possess properties that are essential to their existence (that is without these properties they would no longer be the objects they are supposed to be). Essentialism also refers to a lifestyle that emphasizes minimalism; that is one that is based on focusing on what is really important and giving up on what is not (the idea is to do more by means of less).
For our purposes, however, the definition that is of relevance is the one where the concept is part of the ideological arsenal of the racist, the sexist, and so on. Considered from this perspective, this concept refers to the fallacy that there is a basket of characteristics—often taking the form of malignant stereotypes—that constitutes the “essence” of whatever group (marked by, either, race, or gender, or religion, or ethnicity, etc.) that is being targeted by this view because these stereotypes are, supposedly, biologically-rooted and therefore unchangeable. The common stereotypical beliefs, in this society, that for biological (genetic) reasons all women are illogical and emotional creatures; that all Jews are cunning and untrustworthy when it comes to money; that all Asians are asexual and robotically hardworking; that all blacks are intellectually subpar or lazy or generally incompetent; that all Latina/Latinos are drug dealers and gang bangers; that all Native Americans are alcoholics; that all Muslims are terrorists; that all whites are overly individualistic and lack communality, or are racists obsessed with the supremacy of whiteness, are all examples of essentialist beliefs. Needless to say, essentialism is among the cornerstones of the toxic variety of identity politics, no matter who engages in it. Note: essentialism as part of the ideological mechanism that facilitates marginality operates thusly: essentialism --> stereotypes --> otherness --> marginality. (Yes, you must know these concepts as well.)
For our purposes, however, the definition that is of relevance is the one where the concept is part of the ideological arsenal of the racist, the sexist, and so on. Considered from this perspective, this concept refers to the fallacy that there is a basket of characteristics—often taking the form of malignant stereotypes—that constitutes the “essence” of whatever group (marked by, either, race, or gender, or religion, or ethnicity, etc.) that is being targeted by this view because these stereotypes are, supposedly, biologically-rooted and therefore unchangeable. The common stereotypical beliefs, in this society, that for biological (genetic) reasons all women are illogical and emotional creatures; that all Jews are cunning and untrustworthy when it comes to money; that all Asians are asexual and robotically hardworking; that all blacks are intellectually subpar or lazy or generally incompetent; that all Latina/Latinos are drug dealers and gang bangers; that all Native Americans are alcoholics; that all Muslims are terrorists; that all whites are overly individualistic and lack communality, or are racists obsessed with the supremacy of whiteness, are all examples of essentialist beliefs. Needless to say, essentialism is among the cornerstones of the toxic variety of identity politics, no matter who engages in it. Note: essentialism as part of the ideological mechanism that facilitates marginality operates thusly: essentialism --> stereotypes --> otherness --> marginality. (Yes, you must know these concepts as well.)
