MERLANA SANTANA ANCAR Know Yourself. What does cultural identity mean? “Sliding back and forth / between the fringes of both worlds / by smiling / masking the discomfort / of being pre-judged / Bi-laterally” (Mora lines 18-22). This woman is both Mexican and American, but yet she feels discomfort in both cultures because they do not see her as neither. In order to understand one’s cultural identity, he or she needs to understand what the term means. According to one source, culture identity can be defined as “[S]ocial groups existing within one nation may share a common language and a broad cultural identity but have distinct ethnic identities associated with a different language and history” (Trumbull and Pacheco 9). Various aspects …show more content…
In “By Any Other Name,” by Santha Rama Rau the headmistress changed the pronunciations of the two small children’s name to pretty English names: “‘Oh, my dears, those are much too hard for me. Suppose we give you pretty English names’” (Rau 45), these girls had specific names because of their culture. The headmistress knew this but still changed it because “‘those are much too hard for me’” (Rau 45), even though she had been in India for about fifteen years or so. Language links people into their culture if they did not know their culture: “The common culture may be marked by a shared language” (Trumbull and Pacheco 9). Language plays a big part in a person’s cultural identity because language marks a person’s …show more content…
You can tell a person’s culture by the types of foods they eat, “(although I have this Senegalese friend who always serves the loveliest, poufiest little fish mousse things in puff pastries that look, well, totally French).” (Williams 13), Senegalese is a North African, French origin country, so you can see how this plays a part in the Senegalese friend’s culture. People serve different meals on different holidays as a tradition or because of a common regional meal,“His specialties are pork chops and pies; he makes the good-luck black-eyed peas on New Year’s. His recipes are definitely black in a regional sense, since most blacks in the United States until recently lived in the Southeast” (Williams 13). In “By Any Other Name” by Santha Rama Rau, it explains how two little Indian girls go to lunch at their new school that is totally different from their last school, “Premila and I were the only ones who had Indian food-thin wheat chapatis, some vegetable curry, and a bottle of buttermilk.” (Rau 45). Different foods can tell different cultures apart, by using different styles of cooking, different ingredients, or even the names the use for the
She explains how Mexican and Chicano literature, music, and film is alienated; their culture is considered shameful by Americans. They are forced to internalize their pride in their culture. This conflict creates an issue in a dual culture society. They can neither identify with North American culture or with the Mexican culture.
Some may say that people can adapt to a new place and completely let go of their culture; thus they are saying that cultural identity does not continually inform the way one views the world. This however, is not accurate. While people can adapt to a new place and adapt to parts of a new places culture, they cannot completely let go of their cultural identity. It will always impact the way one views the world. Take for example Bharati, the author of the personal essay “Two ways to belong in America”. While Bharti's sister Mira chose to hold on to every aspect of their indian heritage; Bharati wanted to feel like she belonged fully in America. When talking about her sister she says “She is happier to live in America as expatriate Indian than as an immigrant American I need to feel like a part of the community I have adopted”(85). Bharati needs to feel like she belongs, and though she may have broadened her culture; her perception of the world and others is still influenced by her indian cultural
Language is truly part of our identity: our languages shape who we are. That is why we always have to be tolerant and comprehensive with others’ accents, typical phrases, or grammatical errors. Writers that really make an impact when referring to language and identity are Gloria Anzaldua and Amy Tan, with their readings “How to Tame a Wild Tongue” and “Mother Tongue” respectively. These two writers, with completely different backgrounds, shared their views about how language and identity are intertwined.
Latinos who were raised in the United States of America have a dual identity. They were influenced by both their parents' ancestry and culture in addition to the American culture in which they live. Growing up in between two very different cultures creates a great problem, because they cannot identify completely with either culture and are also caught between the Spanish and English languages. Further more they struggle to connect with their roots. The duality in Latino identity and their search for their own personal identity is strongly represented in their writing. The following is a quote that expresses this idea in the words of Lucha Corpi, a Latina writer: "We Chicanos are like the abandoned children of divorced cultures. We are forever longing to be loved by an absent neglectful parent - Mexico - and also to be truly accepted by the other parent - the United States. We want bicultural harmony. We need it to survive. We struggle to achieve it. That struggle keeps us alive" ( Griwold ).
Cultural identity is very important for every ethnic group as it shapes the culture of that particular faction and therefore, a certain culture cannot realize its own values until it is exposed to another one. II. Nationalism Nationalism revolves around the attitude that people have about their national identity. It is the national days, symbols, music and the anthem, among other values, that bind a nation together. The Hispanics are nationalists who are proud of their traditions and history.
The problem that many Mexican Americans go through is that some of us do not know what nationality we belong to. For me, the problem with my sense of identity regarding nationality or group began in middle school particularly in the 8th grade. There is a saying among many Mexican Americans in the United States, no soy de aquí ni de alla, meaning I am not from here, or from there. This means that most Mexican Americans are stuck in the middle of both cultures. Per White Americans we are not American enough because we are able to speak another language and have different customs. Now, to some Mexican
Identity is one of the main questions throughout all of our readings, because it is hard for people to accept who they are in society. Accepting their identity as a minority with little if any freedoms sparks many of the social problems which I will show happening in all communities and cultures. The main issue we will discuss is how social environments effect the search for identity. The Mexicans in the U.S. module gives us examples how Mexicans try to keep their customs while living in a discriminated environment by the Whites. This module also gives us examples how people are searching for personal identity while struggling with cultural traditions. Finally, the African-American module gives us more examples to compare with the Mexicans in the U.S. module, because these readings deal with Blacks finding personal identity also through discrimination from the Whites. To properly understand the theme of identity, we must first look the factors influencing it.
When asked to define ones cultural identity people usually take the path that leads to their country of origin. They describe their beliefs and tradition which mirrors the values of people within that geographic location. But what about the people who are torn between two cultures? How would they define their cultural identity? This is the problem faced by Henry Park, the protagonist of the book Native Speaker by Chang-Rae Lee. Originally from Korea, he immigrated to the United States with his parents when he was little. However, his struggle of trying to find his acceptance into the American culture still continues. The book outlines his endless uncertainty of trying to define his cultural identity and his feelings as an outsider to the American Culture. Not being able to commit to either of the cultures leaves Henry confused regarding his true Cultural identity which Chang very artfully presents as a fuzzy line between the American and Korean Culture.
There are some cultures that are similar in terms of geographical region and as more in similarities than differences. For example, by historical influence, Latin American countries share culture between them and also with Spain, as well as Europeans who share certain cultural, tastes in food, manners and customs, because some countries had influences of past kingdoms and conquests. It can be said that no culture is like the Chinese culture, neither in language, customs, or personality; the Chinese culture is so unique that is a whole world to know. Chinese cuisine is adapted to the climate and the characteristics of the geographical area, meaning that Chinese food cannot be eaten the same or in the same way as in other countries. In fact, it is said that the tasting of traditional Chinese recipes in their home is a
(Disraeli, n.d.) The influence other cultures have made over the years can be found in our language, music, clothing, architecture, and food just to name a few. Our American English is distinctly different from the “Queen’s English” we have left in Britain. Our architecture varies across the country and is influenced by the culture that has settled in the area. Tacos, burritos, eggrolls, barbeque, pizza, corn bread, soul food, Cajun food, and Tex-Mex are a few examples of how other cultures have influenced American food.
My cultural identity consists of being a 22-year-old white female who identifies as White, heterosexual, Christian-Lutheran, able-bodied and a member of the lower-middle class. Through these identities, there are certain roles that I distinguish with like being a student, daughter, sister, and friend. Socioeconomic
In other words, people can be born into identity categories or contexts, but there are people who struggle to balance two identities - “double consciousness” coined by W.E.B. Du Bois. Personally, I have had people say “you don’t look Mexican” because of my skin color and facial features that supposably make me look European. In addition, I have also heard people say to some of my friends who are Mexican-American “you are too mexican,” because of their color or they have a stronger sense in the Mexican tradition/culture. Next, the U.S. has five standard racial categories, but there have been scholars, like Kaplan, and the public who call for the government to have consistency with the racial categories because individuals have their own racial self-identity not defined or recognized through the five standard racial categories; this also ties in with her third argument because the disjuncture/tension between politics identity and individuals will remain; identity is an unending linguistic process of becoming. In conclusion, many Mexican-Americans find it a challenge to try and find a balance between both “identities” and not fail to have one be dominant over the other. Therefore, the questions I would like to pose is “Who are the key players (e.g. government, community/society, etc.) to move forward and resolve this issue of stereotypes and/or perceptions established upon individuals who are experiencing “double
In her book “Borderland/La Frontera, The New Mestiza” by Gloria Anzaldua, Gloria talks about what it means to be able to identify, culturally, one’s self. So what does it mean to be able to identify one’s self with a specific culture? What about when the culture you identify yourself with, to other cultures, isn’t legitimate? In her writing, Gloria expresses the struggles of Chicanos trying to find their own identity with language. By showing how she had to use several different styles of English and Spanish growing up, the rejections of both American and Mexican cultures, and by showing how the Chicano language finally came about, Gloria is able to effectively convey this point.
I live in this huge mix of culture. Culture is personal. People can have many cultures especially in America and because of globalization. Cultural identity is not one or the other, it is not Mexican or American. Cultural identity is an individual relevant thing.
For instance, not only do I believe I have the Hispanic culture but also interact with the Autism culture. I work with autistic kiddos. I interact with these kids on a daily basis and they are who keep me campaign. They have been part of my life since the day I began this job. I believe I have become part of the Autistic culture. I engage with them every day, for instance, I have teach them to dress, eat, and go to the restroom. My environment is surrounded with these Autistic kids. I have become part of their life just like they have been part of mine. I dedicate my time to these kids because I want a better future for them. Reason why I identify part of the Autistic kids is because I have become more involved in their community. In fact, those who are interpreters, identify themselves part of the Deaf culture. They environment in which they work Is with Deaf people. They have participate in events that contribute with Deaf people. The people you work with can become a factor to who you see yourself. The people around you shape your identity and personality. Therefore, culture also represent who you are and where you come