Rules working as intended. I really came to realize these "protections" for "vulnerable" groups are just a way to divide people into those groups.

People find solidarity. If you're picked on for one thing, you can understand being picked on for another. If you can't, you talk and explain it to each other. This has been happening naturally for the past 80 years. It's the basis of Rock and Roll, for example.

They always attack that shared experience. They can't tolerate it. "You never faced systemic oppression... You've never been treated like crap based on your skin colour or gender [I'm quoting a reply in these comments here]... You don't know what women have to deal with." Etc. They have to focus on the qualities of division, so they can invalidate your experience.
 

I think it's party just to divide people and make them weaker. On that level, it's a psychological tactic- a big win for the Grand Accuser. I'm not against making money, by any means. But you'll notice these public scolds almost always come from upper middle class backgrounds. Or like AOC, they grew up safely surrounded by that, with just a little less money. Women who work all day at truck stops usually aren't feminists. People who deal with real shit don't really care about race, beyond a description tool.

But I can put on a tin foil hat, too.
Identity politics also creates a new paradigm... where the very group who says "we're not a group; we believe in equality" are now the historical oppressors. Don't believe your lyin' eyes. These nations weren't really based on equality. People didn't really give women equal rights. Bigotries in the past weren't set-backs, they're the real culture. Nevermind all the "oppressors" who fought against bigotry. Never mind our bigotry right here in your face. No, we need to dismantle "the patriarchy" and start everything over.

Don't believe your lyin' eyes. These laws and institutions for equality don't matter. We'll make everyone really equal. All we have to do is get everyone's ability to say offensive things. Dismantle all the tools to build a life for yourself. Make laws to protect these new -totally real- groups that need protection. Like the underprivileged minority known as rich white women, for example.

That's when it starts to look like a buncha Commies.

/rant