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Social Identity reflection paper
Aspects of social identity
Social Identity reflection paper
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Individual Identity According to Dernan-Sparks and Edwards (2010), my racially identify is “ based on the racial identities of [my] biological parents [, but is incorporated with] cultural aspects from a different racial or ethic group” (Derman-Sparks & Edwards, 2010, p. 78). I am person of color—Mexican with Naturalized Citizenship from the United States meaning that I am no longer considered a Resident Legal Alien from other country. Corresponding to, “My Social Identities Portrait” in our textbook (Derman-Sparks & Edwards, 2010) I am gendered as a married woman who is over 45 years of age with my sexual orientation being heterosexual with a medium size body type, and medium height. My social classed that, “is often measured as a combination of …show more content…
Three Levels of Cultural Awareness. Lecture Notes), is a characteristic of “difference” that I am aware of is the differences in skin color. I view my social identities as being shaped many factors of changes throughout my life that contributed to my exposure to different communities, television, people, and the drive to better myself and show society that; though I am seen as being part of a minority ethnic group, I can have the qualities that they highly regard as middle class. However, I have always seen my ethnicity as Mexican, but have been influence by dominant culture to become a U.S. Citizen, which I am Mexican American, and my mother’s beliefs in the Catholic faith has shape to follow her faith and raise my children in this religion. My family structure has also changed through my life in childhood biological parent were married, and through young adulthood I was an unmarried single parent, now I am in a interracial marriage with 4 biological children. My internal oppression developed from dominant culture’s standards that reflected “physical characteristics, name, language, cultural traditions, or values” (Derman-Sparks &
After reading Alsultany’s “Los Intersticios: Recasting Moving Selves,” I realized that there are many misconceptions among those who have single or mixed racial background. For individuals who have more than one races, it may seem that they are at an advantage since they have luxury to take side with which ever race they choose. However, it actually results in a constant aggravation when one is constantly questioned about their race. Alsultany was asked by her classmate about her racial background. It was apparent that her classmate confirmed in her mind that Alsultany was different from her since she didn’t supposedly fit the description of a typical American, despite mentioning that she was born and raised in the U.S. This further strengthened
In “Seeing Beyond Our Differences “by Sheri White, the author writes about how people are different in their appearances, race, and religion. After all, everyone is human and almost identical. The author points out how her mother is from India with a dark skin color and her father is from Indiana with a light skin color. Her parents still able to get married and there is no obstacle in their marriage. As a daughter, the author has never noticed that her parents are different in their skin colors and races. They both are the same as human to her. The author’s main idea is to let people know that no matter what race they are, what religion they follow, or how they look, they all are human. Deep down inside them, in their DNA, they all are 99.9 percent the same and almost identical. In this article, the author uses expressive purpose and descriptive pattern to express her main idea.
Whether children of Mexican immigrants adopt pan-ethnic terms (Latino, Hispanic), American identities, or identities rooted in their home country (Mexican) reflects how they view themselves in relation to the ethnic stratification system in the United States (Tovar, Jessica, and Cynthia Feliciano, 2009). Biculturalism may be expressed using a Mexican-American self-label, as opposed to either an American or Mexican label (Rumbaut, 1994). For those who are viewed as non-white in the United States (including most recent immigrants from Mexico and their children), ethnic identity development is an important part of overall adolescent identity formation, and may be especially complicated for those who grow up in the United States, but have parents from another country (Rumbaut,
However, there are occasions where labels could hinder a person 's opportunity. In fact, culture is the newest label that society takes into account the most, and to a minority, the main goal is to embed the roots of the old generation into the next generation. Unfortunately, not everyone is able to be versatile today, as a matter of fact, often times white Americans find themselves complaining about the lack of culture that makes other’s diverse. Hsu points out that “to be white is to be culturally broke. … They feel disadvantaged, and they feel marginalized. They don’t have a culture that’s cool or oppositional” (505). What Hsu really means by this is white individual’s envy not coming from a diverse background. An individual has a diverse background when they inherit multiple cultures. This allows for flexibility when choosing what culture to identify with. Although this may be true for some individuals, white Americans today tend to believe that it’s more convenient to identify themselves with the group that appeals to them based on styles and cultural backgrounds. Thus, being culturally broke meant finding the niche that one is accepted into in order, to obtain a diverse identity. Hsu emphasizes that culture is a necessity which in turn allows seeing the flexibility of racial identity throughout his examples. Hsu overlooks what can be considered as an important perception of how racial identity can be inherited, which is seen throughout McBride. Having a white Jewish mother and a black father proved to be a huge challenge for McBride as a child it can be seen thoroughly when he mentions, “I-thought it would be easier if we were just one color, black or white. I didn’t want to be white. My siblings had already instilled the notion of black pride in me. I would have preferred that Mommy were black” (McBride 419). McBride is constantly categorized into two different groups black
As a European immigrant in the USA, I have encountered many new cultural phenomena in the last 4 _ years that have challenged me to perceive who I am differently. This experience has been even more polarized by the fact that I have lived most of that time in Los Angeles, a melting pot to be reckoned with. Coming to America, I expected these adaptations to my Irish self but the intensity of becoming cognizant of my label of 'whiteness' has mocked the limitations of my anticipations.
In such a multicultural world, being knowledgeable and understanding of not only your cultural background, but that of others is essential. Building my awareness on cultures different from my own, and how it shapes an individual’s identity, will foster my personal and professional development. Subsequently, I conducted a cultural interview with an individual whose cultural background differed from my own. Several similarities and differences between our cultures were apparent in the interview, specifically in the areas of race, ethnicity, language, values, and worldview.
This model examines the relationship between the dominant culture and one with minority status, such as Latinos. Attitudes towards self, same minority group, different minority groups, and the dominant group are examined through five stages within the model. These include conformity, dissonance, resistance and immersion, introspection, and integrative awareness. The stage most pertinent to Antonio at this time is the Dissonance stage. During this stage, one starts to acknowledge the existence of racism, that he cannot escape his own heritage, and experiences conflict between shame and pride felt for his culture. This same shame versus pride conflict is also extended to members of his own minority group. Held stereotypes about other minority groups are now questioned as well. One in the Dissonance stage is also starting to realize that not all beliefs held by the dominant group are valuable or even accurate (Sue & Sue, 2003). Because of the two incidents Antonio endured during his freshman year and their emotional impact on him, he is becoming aware that even though he has “assimilated,” others of the majority group will still identify him as different. Antonio is also experiencing conflict between what members of the minority group (his parents) and the majority group feel are important; his parents believe he
In summary, I have presented a theory for the formation and definition of racial identity, providing an example which proves it true in American Society. Yet, this does not leave me with a sense of satisfaction, rather it leaves me with great disappointment. What does this say for the society we live in; a society which is supposed to be based on the American Creed? My arguments have only proved that we are not truly individuals; the American Creed is not something America lives by. Rather we are identified as groups and not seen on a personal level…a very disturbing realization.
In Anderson and Collins’, chapter on “Why race, class, and gender still maters” encourage readers to think about the world in their framework of race, class, and gender. They argued that even though society has change and there is a wide range of diversity; race, class and gender still matters. Anderson and Collins stated, “Race, class, and gender matter because they remain the foundation for system of power and inequality that, despite our nation’s diversity, continue to be among the most significant social facts of peoples lives.” (Anderson and Collins, 2010) When I was a little girl, I never knew that people were classified in to groups such as race, class, gender. I knew there were people that had a different color of skin than my color of skin. I knew that there were rich people and poor people, and that there were girls and boys. I saw everyone as being human beings, as being the same and not classified as something. As I was growing up, I started to see the differences in classifications in groups. It was not because I just woke up knowing that there were different classifications, but because I was taught about them in school and society. Anderson and Collins stated, “Race, class and gender shape the experiences of all people in the United States. (2010) This means that experiences that we have gone through in life are formed from a race, class, and gender view.
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
Social institutions, like educational and religious groups, enhance rule obedience and contribute to the formation of identity and sense of belonging to certain groups. People possess a set of beliefs that condition their everyday behavior, like one can think that education is the most important four our future, while other people might believe that staying at home and raising their children is their reality. However, our beliefs are influenced by the groups that we interact. For instance, if we join a feminist movement, we might start reflecting a positive attitude towards gender equality. This illustrates how our social interaction can influence or beliefs related to race, and gender. Similarly, religious institutions and
My culture identity, as I know it as is African American. My culture can be seen in food, literature, religion, language, the community, family structure, the individual, music, dance, art, and could be summed up as the symbolic level. Symbolic, because faith plays a major role in our daily lives through song, prayer, praise and worship. When I’m happy I rely on my faith, same as when I’m sad, for I know things will get better as they have before.
Who am I; my beliefs, values, morals, and views on society have assisted in molding me into the person that I am considered to be today. I was raced with specifics values, traditions, and norms. Being raised in a small town made being socially aware very easy. I was raised under the southern Baptist Christian religion. Church was always the same and it had a majority of women in attendance although the men and elderly people ran the church overall. It was always the same, repetitive habits and events that occurred in my town but after a while I became accustomed to always being near or known by others.
A person’s identity is shaped by many different aspects. Family, culture, friends, personal interests and surrounding environments are all factors that tend to help shape a person’s identity. Some factors may have more of an influence than others and some may not have any influence at all. As a person grows up in a family, they are influenced by many aspects of their life. Family and culture may influence a person’s sense of responsibilities, ethics and morals, tastes in music, humor and sports, and many other aspects of life. Friends and surrounding environments may influence a person’s taste in clothing, music, speech, and social activities. Personal interests are what truly set individuals apart. An individual is not a puppet on the string of their puppet-master, nor a chess piece on their master’s game board, individuals choose their own paths in life. They accomplish, or strive to accomplish, goals that they have set for themselves throughout their lifetime. Individuals are different from any other individual in the world because they live their own life rather than following a crowd of puppets. A person’s identity is defined by what shaped it in the first place, why they chose to be who they are, and what makes them different from everybody else in the world. I feel that I have developed most of my identity from my own dreams, fantasies, friends, and idols.
I love being myself because I believe my personal life experiences give me a better understanding of who I am. I am a female, and I identify myself as women. The first individual gender identification is my name, Jieying Guan, which means beauty and smart. I prefer people call me Jieying because it brings me sense of belonging for my hometown and culture. After I moved to America four years ago, I found many Americans often have a hard time to pronounce my name, so I suggest them call me Vicky Guan. I am twenty-seven now. As the youngest daughter in my family, I grow up with love and happiness. My grandma always took good care of three sisters and me, so that my parents could spend more time on making money.