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How culture affects identity
How does culture influence identity
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Everyday the future in America looks brighter for the issues dealing with race and identity. Brave souls are not letting racism, class discrimination, or sexism hold them back anymore. Furthermore, the fight for a balanced society that pushes for equality is on the horizon. As we close on an era, based on purely the skin of the person, we need to analyze the impacts of the Ethnicity paradigm and Class paradigm on politics of the 20th century. Race and Ethnicity are used interchangeable in everyday conversation, however; they are not the same.
Asian American Identities There are people all over the world who have come to America to seek a greater life. With America having the largest immigrant population compared to other countries, there are always people migrating into the country. People all over the world may be coming here to pursue their own dreams or to escape persecution. The immigrant population has increased so much, that about one-third of U.S. population are now people of color.
The case study I have chosen to describe is Sarah, the 24 year old White female who has sought out treatment of anxiety and depression. In the Helms White racial identity development model I have to chosen to apply the Autonomy status of being. Sarah appears to be accepting of her own identity of being white and a lesbian. Sarah and her partner are not hiding their relationship and have “come out” to both of their families and at work. Even though Sarah appears to have successfully graduated college, has a career, and involved in a long term relationship, she has most likely some discrimination and stereotypes herself, given her sexual orientation.
In Chapter 1 and 2 of “Creating Black Americans,” author Nell Irvin Painter addresses an imperative issue in which African history and the lives of Africans are often dismissed (2) and continue to be perceived in a negative light (1). This book gives the author the chance to revive the history of Africa, being this a sacred place to provide readers with a “history of their own.” (Painter 4) The issue that Africans were depicted in a negative light impacted various artworks and educational settings in the 19th and early 20th century. For instance, in educational settings, many students were exposed to the Eurocentric Western learning which its depiction of Africa were not only biased, but racist as well.
Our identities are more determined by society around us. In Sara Ahmed's podcast, she talks about how it was for her being a Muslim woman after 9/11 happened and how even though she was born in the US and grew up in an American area she was still singled out based on her appearance and not how she truly was. Being an Indian-American caused her to be seen two ways, either as an American or, when something terrible happened, Indian. Just because our personal identities are one thing, you are the only person who sees you as that; society groups you up and you have to “act that way”, or “look that way”. That's “who you are”.
Americans from different time periods see American identity differently. Different effects in the time period may change your views. Back when there were slaves people thought you had to be white. Back when my grandma was in school she said it meant you 're “free to make your own choices”(mary eaton). Finally our generation may think differently from that.
It is more about what you are about rather than who you are. It is contributing to this country, pledging allegiance to a flag and being open to the idea of life, liberty, and equality. Ethnicity, race and ancestry are not used to determine what it means to be an American. In the article, “The Newest Americans”,
Is it still the case today or is it more what I hear our President telling are who we are. I was born on the Upper East side and raised as as New Yorker as one can be. My parents have two distincts ethnic background. I speak many languages with peripheral cultures to mine. What does that make me.
America’s Diverse Population In the nineteenth century, rates of immigration across the world increased. Within thirty years, over eleven million immigrants came to the United States. There were new types of people migrating than what the United States were used to seeing as well. Which made people from different backgrounds and of different race work and live in tight spaces together; causing them to be unified.
Race is a term that is connected to biology rather than ethnicity. Race is a population with the same exact species. Ethnicity is more based on culture than race, because it’s focusing on religion, customs, and language and to be part of that you must be involved with the qualities. My friend is a Chinese and American race wise however, he does not practice any Chinese customs and doesn’t speak the language at all, so ethnicity wise you could say he’s
America’s identity is defined differently by every individual. Ideally it was to be a place of freedom and acceptance, identified by its message of liberty and hard-work, however the question arises whether America is a melting pot in which only one culture dominates or it a mosaic of many peoples’ histories. America’s potential and true identity lies within its ability to assimilate and create a natural individualism despite race, class, and immigration standing. A country as powerful and influential as America is within industry, politics, and socioeconomics cannot be abstract in definition.
Racial identity plays a role in the physical and psychological features of humans. Physically, humans in different parts of the globe endure different conditions and environments. Humans adapt to their environments and obtain different physical traits, henceforth, these physical traits have become adjacent to race. Psychologically, ancestral prejudices and influences throughout history have lingered through the generations and have impacted modern racial identities and tensions. Ethnic conflicts of the past such as the Social Darwinist theory of a "superior race" are morally refuted in current times, but that assumption had a brunt impact in which the world is still repairing today.
Each individual has their own different social identity. One’s social identity is constructed based on the different influences around them. The development of social identity is influenced by various factors such as the historical, cultural and religious beliefs of the society, community or family where one is brought up. It is influenced by the behaviours and attitudes of authority figures such as parents, teachers and community leaders around them, it is also influenced by external factors such as the media, one’s peers and the overall exposure one has (Carrim, 2006, p56).
similarities they have between groups of people. Identification naturally happens through established similarities and differences. Sometimes group identification shifts as a result of relational and situational identities. It’s only possible to define oneself through their relationships with others. Therefore “identification changes depending on who one currently has a relationship with”.
While identity focuses on uniqueness such as how an individual is different from and similar to others, diversity focuses on the range of the difference and uniqueness such as race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, age, physical abilities, religious beliefs, political beliefs, among others. Diversity should be seen as source of strength. However, it can also be a source of violence, oftentimes by those who fear or dislike difference. In the best light diversity is foundation for peacebuilding – since it enables us to draw strength and be respectful of difference. Identity and diversity are linked.