Wokeism

1. Axioms

The following axioms function as non-derived premises within Wokeism. They are treated as foundational assumptions about social reality, power, and moral responsibility.

1. Social reality is structured by power: Social outcomes are largely determined by systems of power, hierarchy, and domination.
2. Identity categories are morally salient: Characteristics such as race, gender, sexuality, and class significantly shape lived experience.
3. Oppression is systemic: Injustice is embedded in institutions, norms, and language, not only in individual actions.
4. Lived experience is epistemically significant: Marginalized perspectives provide privileged insight into social injustice.
5. Moral neutrality sustains injustice: Inaction or claimed neutrality tends to preserve existing power structures.

2. Derived Doctrinal Commitments

From these axioms, Wokeism derives a coherent interpretive framework for analyzing society and culture.

• Critical consciousness: Individuals are encouraged to become aware of implicit bias, privilege, and systemic injustice.
• Structural analysis: Social phenomena are interpreted primarily through group-level patterns rather than individual intent.
• Language as power: Speech both reflects and reinforces social hierarchies.
• Intersectionality: Multiple identity categories interact to produce distinct forms of advantage or disadvantage.
• Progress as moral imperative: Social change is framed as an ethical necessity rather than a neutral option.

3. Ethical Framework

Ethical reasoning in Wokeism is activist, relational, and outcome-oriented.

• Equity over formal equality: Fairness is defined by outcomes rather than identical treatment.
• Responsibility to act: Individuals are morally obligated to oppose injustice, particularly within their spheres of influence.
• Solidarity: Ethical action prioritizes alignment with marginalized groups.

4. Practices

Practices function as embodied expressions of awareness, critique, and reform.

• Language reform and norm-setting
• Public critique and accountability practices
• Institutional reform efforts
• Educational and consciousness-raising activities
• Symbolic actions expressing solidarity

5. Internal Diversity

Wokeism contains significant internal variation downstream from shared axioms.

• Different emphases on race, gender, class, or sexuality
• Variation in tolerance for dissent and disagreement
• Reformist versus abolitionist approaches
• Academic, activist, and popular-cultural expressions