Political Me: critically engaging the politics of my everyday life

DAILY POLITICS LOG Name of Student Course Name of Professor University Date Daily Politics Log Introduction The main goal of our combined “personal identity and politics log” during our class course was examining and thinking profoundly about daily and fleeting moments that can be exceptionally politicised. Ordinary social interactions are often filled with power relations, discourses and modes of subjection, which create some particular notions of subjects. In this paper, I will analyse a contemporary event from my politics log -specifically, my morning conversations with my roommate Kate through the lenses of Michel Foucault’s concepts of discursivity, performativity, intersecting modes of power, and capitalist realism. The analysis will prove that we experience our identities and social roles that serve as the contexts upon which the broader politics of gender establishment are centred. Political Log Identity politics is examined by Bernstein (2005) in the Annual Review of Sociology. The approach explores group identities’ political mobilisation, including representation, solidarity, and power dynamics. My log entry reflects a usual morning weekday as I follow the routines of my roommate Kate. While labouring toward an exquisitely groomed look, I notice that Kate seemingly does not stress about the feminine standards of self-care and time management, which I find crucial to doing my tasks precisely and correctly. Youdell (2015) applies assemblage theory to education policy sociology and shows how varied networks of actors, institutions, and discourses shape policy. Despite my severe hint that Kate cannot be late for her class, she hangs around and does not rush until the last minute to be on time. I have an internal conflict between adhering to the expected standards of being well-mannered and desiring to enjoy myself like Kate. This scenario exposes the gender dynamics around the two of us, which I think is a political tension that defines how we relate daily. Brunila and Rossi (2018) examine identity politics, vulnerability, and education in Educational Philosophy and Theory. They discover how identifying vulnerability might improve education and create inclusive environments, challenging hegemonic power systems and fostering empathy and solidarity among varied identities. Theoretical Analysis Power Relations This superficial morning phenomenon seemed irrelevant at the time. Nevertheless, such signs of inherent power relations are ever-present, as in instances whereby behaviour is considered highly valuable and consequential. As illustrated by Foucault’s (1982) theory, power does not function in the form of sovereignty. The kind of power in our situation was conversely very gentle but still influential and productive, which instilled in us discourses on female superiority. The compulsion within the social configuration to dedicate a considerable amount of time and work to the feminine appearance through makeup, hairstyle, smartly tailored clothes, and the like is the leading example of disciplinary power which pushes normative self-regulation. The language influences and societal limitations that promote an “I-just-escaped-from-an-imaginary-heavenly-laundry” appearance provide difficulty for young women, and once they reach a certain age, not adhering to beauty standards becomes an unacceptable transgression.  Subjectivation Subjectivation is thoroughly examined by Traue and Pfahl (2022), who propose crucial concepts and research initiatives to understand better how people become socio-cultural subjects. Specific to the inequality that accompanied our relationship was the subjectivation process through which the interactions consisted of a discursive positioning of Kate and me to take on specific gendered subject positions. Foucault (1982) introduces the concept of subjectivation as the idea that individuals are given identities- they become subjects and enslaved by societal relations. My rigorous daily routine of preparing a healthy diet can sound like my voluntary response to the Althusserian policeman’s call, when the entity that calls others into the social existence requires a particular behaviour to enact, establishing their significant power over others. Dawney (2013) examines how daily disruptions affect subjectivity and emotions, revealing the intricate relationship between individual experiences and socio-spatial environments. On the contrary, Kate’s...