Wealth of Selves: Multiple Identities, Mestiza Consciousness, and the Subject of Politics (Volume 14) (Rio Grande/Ro Bravo: Borderlands Culture and Traditions)

Many of us have multiple identities, says Edwina Barvosa. We may view ourselves according to ethnicity, marital or family roles, political affiliation, sexuality, or any of several other “identities” we may use to organize our behavior and self-understanding at any given time. Various domains have offered nuggets of insight regarding the characteristics and political implications of seeing the self as made up of multiple identities, but many questions remain. In Wealth of Selves, Edwina Barvosa constructs an ambitious interdisciplinary blend of these insights and crafts them into an overarching theoretical framework for understanding multiple identities in terms of intersectionality, identity contradiction, and the political potential that lies within the practices of self-integration. Grounded in Gloria Anzaldúa’s concept of mestiza consciousness as well as in Western political thought, this reconsideration of the self promises to reshape our thinking on issues such as immigrant incorporation, national identity, political participation, the socially constructed sources of will and political critique, and the longevity of racial and gender conflicts. With its accessible style and rich cross-pollination among disciplines, Wealth of Selves will reward readers in political science, philosophy, race, ethnic, and American studies, as well as in borderlands, sexuality, and gender studies. All Of Us Have Multiple Identities. Yet, As Edwina Barvosa Argues, We Are Not Always Aware Of The Influence Of Our Multiplicity On Our Selves Or On Political Life. Wealth Of Selves Explores The Everyday Character And Political Consequences Of Multiple Identities, Blending Insights From Various Disciplines To Forge An Overarching Theoretical Framework For Understanding Multiple Identities In Political Context. Through This Original Framework, Barvosa Analyzes The Shape And Politics Of Multiple Identities In Terms Of Identity Contradictions, The Intersections Among Identities, And The Political Potential That Lies Within Practices She Refers To As Selfcraft. This Reconsideration Of The Self Promises To Reshape Our Thinking On Issues Such As Immigrant Incorporation, National Identity, Political Participation, The Socially Constructed Sources Of The Will And Political Critique, And The Longevity Of Racial And Gender Conflicts. With Its Accessible Style And Rich Cross-pollination Among Disciplines, Wealth Of Selves Will Reward Readers In Political Science, Philosophy, Race, Ethnic, And American Studies, As Well As In Borderlands, Sexuality, And Gender Studies.--book Jacket. Multiple Identities And Immigrant Political Loyalty: Replies To The Question, Who Are We? -- Mestiza Consciousness And Intersectionality: Toward An Interdisciplinary Framework Of Multiple Identities -- Identity Contradiction In Creative And Critical Thought: The Case Of Nazi J -- The Two-tiered Cohesion Of Decentered Subjectivity: A Herdsman's Maps And The Politics Of Disordered Contradiction -- Ambivalence And Life Projects: Love, Politics, And Self-integration In Casablanca -- Selfcraft: Love And Politics In The Self-integration Of Multiple Identities -- Conclusions: Racial Akrasia, Selfcraft, And The Defragmentation Of Self And Society. Edwina Barvosa. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 267-281) And Index. Grounded in Gloria Anzaldua's concept of mestiza consciousness as well as in Western political thought, this book offers a reconsideration of the self, which promises to reshape our thinking on issues such as immigrant incorporation, national identity, political participation, and the socially constructed sources of will and political critique.