Tribalism, Intersectionality, and Relationships

Have you ever wondered why it was easier to make friends as a child than it is now? Is it the free time? Is it the lack of experience with rejection, let alone any experience? Or is it because children don’t have a fully formed sense of identity yet and anyone can be a friend?

Tribalism is the loyalty to an in-group that leads one to prioritize the group’s needs over the individual or outsider’s needs. In the past, tribalism kept a group safe and connected. Today, it can range from as benign such as a team of coworkers to as corrupt as a bigoted organization. And, with the advent of social media, this modern era has so many different kinds of “tribes” that anyone can belong to, many of which conflict with each other - what’s known today as intersectionality.

How does one stay loyal to so many identities? Is it even necessary? What drives one to choose to befriend people at the individual level, even if they’re polar opposites? And how does one maintain such unlikely connections?

Let’s go back to the playground and explore friendship from a new angle.