I wouldn't ask about single words/concepts without wiki'ing first. It's when even wikipedia leaves me blank that I pray for the interpretation of a HNer (or stackexchanger etc). Wikipedia says identity politics is people holding political positions in the interests of their religion, social class or caste, culture, dialect, disability, education, ethnicity, language, nationality, sex, gender identity, generation, occupation, profession, race, political party affiliation, sexual orientation, settlement, urban and rural habitation, and veteran status. Well damn, that's everything.