Question

Which of the following represents an essentialist argument for identity?

A. In apartheid South Africa someone was treated as black if they had a single black ancestor within the last few generations.
B. To claim legal membership status within a federally recognized Native American tribe, one must demonstrate the designated blood quantum within their ancestry
C. Phillipe, a famous restaurant owner, will only hire chefs with at least one French parent, because he thinks that people with French ancestry have a more refined sense of taste and cuisine than the rest of us.
D. Women are predisposed to like nail polish, make-up, and the color pink becauseoftheiradditionalXchromosome.
E. All of the above.

Answer 1

The essentialist argument for identity in the given options is D, where it suggests women's preferences are biologically determined.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question which represents an essentialist argument for identity is D. Women are predisposed to like nail polish, make-up, and the color pink because of their additional X chromosome. This choice reflects essentialism because it attributes a fixed essence to women, suggesting that their preferences in cosmetics and color are biologically determined rather than socially constructed or a matter of individual choice. Essentialism in the context of identity foregrounds the idea that certain attributes are innate and unchangeable due to biological factors.

In contrast, the other examples (A, B, C) pertain to societal or legal classifications that do not necessarily reflect an essentialist viewpoint but rather demonstrate how identities can be constructed and regulated by external rules, often for purposes of discrimination or inclusion within certain social groups.