People feel threatened when identity is challenged. Eg:If white identity is self defined as being in charge of other races & it's challenged by a black leader, they must A: reevaluate or B: double down. The same is true when masculine identity is tied to being "the boss" of women
The process of revaluation includes becoming aware of and taking responsibility for a mistake then evaluating the info & choosing a new definition of race or masculinity. Doubling down includes refusal to look at / take responsibility in light of new info and so includes blame
This was brought to my attention reading about deradicalization of terrorists & white supremacists. An expert explained that they tie their identity as male to fighting or contoling others & that showing them other ways to define masculinity, like protection, helped them change.
Interestingly, radicalized neo nazis in Sweeden responded particularly well to new masculine roles as protectors of the environment, but that wasn't true here because protecting the environment is viewed as feminine in our culture so they couldn't feel "masculine" doing it
We, as a culture, today are looking deeply into our racial and gender identities and biases and reevaluating, in light of new info, what it means to be white, black, male, female, straight, gay, etc. and if those identities actually are true or serve us.
