Social and political theorists have traced in detail how individuals come to possess gender,
sex and racial identities. This book examines the nature of these identities. Georgia Warnke
argues that identities, in general, are interpretations and, as such, have more in common
with textual understanding than we commonly acknowledge. A racial, sexed or gendered
understanding of who we and others are is neither exhaustive of the'meanings' we can be
said to have nor uniquely correct. We are neither always, or only, black or white, men or …

The café in an affluent area of North London was filled with well-dressed men and women
drinking coffee and passing the time of day in conversation. Many were sitting out at tables,
covered over by an awning. Despite its being winter, the sun was shining and it was
unusually warm. Someone was playing a penny whistle and as I walked past I noticed a hat
in the middle of the pavement. To the left of the awning and keeping himself hidden was a
young black man playing a traditional English folk song. His clothes were worn and he was …

Authored by the leading voices in critical legal studies, feminist legal theory, critical race
theory and queer legal theory, After Identity explores the importance of sexual, national and
other identities in people's lived experiences while simultaneously challenging the limits of
legal strategies focused on traditional identity groups. These new ways of thinking about
cultural identity have implications for strategies for legal reform, as well as for progressive
thinking generally about theory, culture and politics.