Definition: Essentialism is the idea that within any object, group or identity, there is are a set of inherent, immutable characteristics which constitute group identity.
Application: Essentialism has been critiqued by feminist scholars who point out that there is no inherent, shared and universal experience which collectively defines all women.
Adaptation: As community developers, we must resist the urge to make collective, essentialist conclusions about the communities we work with. For instance, not every person in a low-income community will share the same sets of negative experiences with the police. Making these sorts of overarching generalizations about the members of specific groups or communities, although politically useful, can alienate and marginalize those members whose experiences are not being represented.
References:
Morton, T. A.; Hornsey, M. J.; Postmes, T. (2009). "Shifting ground: The variable use of essentialism in contexts of inclusion and exclusion.". British Journal of Social Psychology (1): 35–59.
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