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Chicano research essay
Can society have an impact on your identity
Influence of society on identity
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This country was founded by immigrants and is known for its population from a wide array of cultural backgrounds. Living in a westernized society that is so diverse, we are forced to choose an identity for ourselves at one point or another in our lives. Some choose to identify by their outer qualities, while others may identify by their inner qualities. One may identify by their looks, gender, sexuality, political views, or their beliefs. Some may have an identity that is dynamic and ever changing depending on the events faced in life, or some my identify by a single aspect throughout their whole life. Some may even struggle finding an identity due to the countless influence both conscious and unconscious. “In the Borderlands of Chicano Identity,” Saenz shares why it is necessary to find an identity and also presents various difficulties due to our surrounding culture and politics. Choosing ones identity is complex and multilayered. Choosing a single aspect of one’s life to identify by can be confusing and difficult, but at times a necessity. There are so many ways I could identify myself, whether by my race, gender, or cultural background. For the purpose of government forms, I identify as a Caucasian female, but this doesn’t even begin to identify who I truly am. Identifying yourself solely on the basis of race and gender is somewhat irrational because neither of these aspects truly define who you are. We all have a story of where we came from, our parents came from and their parents. The various aspects that have shaped us into the person we are today, and have given us the different views and dreams that shape our lives. I am one of six children whom was raised by a single mother in the lower working class. I am the second ... ... middle of paper ... ... point that it is impossible to live in our society without an identity (75). Whether it is an identity we choose or an unwanted identity chosen for us, having an identity in inescapable. There will always be inequalities and differences among us, forcing us to choose an identity or have an identity forced upon us. ”The politics of identity cannot be separated from these inequalities. Identity politics in the work place, for all its disturbing problematic, is at least a recognition that we live in a racist society and a demonstration of a willingness to meet and confront that racist society with solutions” (79). Choose who you are, what values you want to live by, what beliefs you want to believe in, and what dreams you want to make reality before an unwanted, false, public identity is forced upon you. Works Cited "In the borderlands of Chicano Identity" Saenz
One of Beverly Tatum's major topics of discussion is racial identity. Racial identity is the meaning each of us has constructed or is constructing about what it means to be a white person or a person of color in a race-conscious society. (Tatum, pp Xvii) She talks about how many parents hesitate to talk to their children about racism because of embarrassment and the awkwardness of the subject. I agree with her when she says that parents don't want to talk about racism when they don't see a problem. They don't want to create fear or racism where none may exist. It is touchy subject because if not gone about right, you can perhaps steer someone the wrong way. Another theory she has on racial identity is that other people are the mirror in which we see ourselves. (tatum pp18) 'The parts of our identity that do capture our attention are those that other people notice, and that reflects back to us.'; (Tatum pp21) What she means by this is that what other people tell us we are like is what we believe. If you are told you are stupid enough you might start to question your intelligence. When people are searching for their identity normally the questions 'who am I now?'; 'Who was I before?'; and 'who will I become'; are the first that come to mind. When a person starts to answer these questions their answers will influence their beliefs, type of work, where they may live, partners, as well as morals. She also mentions an experiment where she asked her students to describe themselves in sixty seconds. Most used descriptive words like friendly, shy, intelligent, but students of color usually state there racial or ethnic group, while white students rarely, if ever mention that they are white. Women usually mention that they are female while males usually don't think to say that they are males. The same situation appeared to take place when the topic of religious beliefs came up. The Jewish students mentioned being Je...
Identity is the essential core of who we are as individuals, the conscious experience of the self-inside.
Armando Rendon in his landmark 1970 wrote the book I am a Chicano. This book is about how activist in the Chicano movement pointed to an empty monolog of the word Chicano. Chicano means an activist. Chicanos describes themselves it was a form of self-affirmation; it reflected the consciousness that their experiences. Chicanos means, nations, histories, and cultures. This book talks about how Mexican American also used the term of Chicano to describe them, and usually in a lighthearted way, or as a term of endearment. In a text it talks how Chicanos haven’t forgotten their Mexican origins, and how they become a unique community. The book talks about how Mexican American community’s long-suffering history of racism and discrimination, disenfranchisement, and economic exploitation in the United States. The
Billions of people populate the earth, and each person is trying to be themselves. Every person has unique qualities that help define who they are. When qualities such as personalities, beliefs, and experiences come together an identity is formed. Without identities a person is not much of anything. The short story “The Vanishing American” by Charles Beaumont uses the element of invisibility to show how valuable an identity is to a person.
Although our society is slowly developing a more accepting attitude toward differences, several minority groups continue to suffer from cultural oppression. In her essay “How to Tame a Wild Tongue,” Gloria Anzaldúa explores the challenges encountered by these groups. She especially focuses on her people, the Chicanos, and describes the difficulties she faced because of her cultural background. She argues that for many years, the dominant American culture has silenced their language. By forcing them to speak English and attempting to get rid of their accents, the Americans have robbed the Chicanos of their identity. She also addresses the issue of low self-esteem that arises from this process of acculturation. Growing up in the United States,
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
Becoming an American requires adjustment to the English language and interacting with different people. In the essay “Aria: A Memoir of a Bilingual Childhood,” Richard Rodriguez illustrates the distinctions between individual and social identity as a Mexican immigrant. He explains individual identity through the process of considering himself as an American citizen. Rodriguez also acknowledges the necessity of assimilating into the American culture and the consequences that follow.
Identity is primarily described primarily as what makes a person who they are. While it is seen as an individual asset, one’s identity can be shaped and persuaded not only by life experiences, but by society as well. Bryan Stevenson speaks on several controversial issues and proclaims certain societal problems and the typical behaviors noticed in response to them. How one approaches the issues that are spoken about may expose their true identity. Stevenson argues that how one reacts to racial inequality within the criminal justice system may regulate their identity. In addition to that, how dealing with the nation’s history may force a growth on one’s identity, eventually bringing peace and acceptance to the nation. Lastly, how one views the
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.
I immediately decided to to interview my brother, Henry Ropella, for this project after reading Borderlands/La Frontera: The New Mestiza by Chicano author Gloria E. Anzaldúa because I was struck by the poignancy of the preface, “Living on borders and in margins, keeping intact one's shifting and multiple identity and integrity, is like trying to swim in a new element” (19). Henry is twelve years old, in middle school, and is Latino, my family having adopted him from Guatemala when he was a baby. I want to know how he feels about his Latino heritage while living in a predominately white small town and what part he thinks it plays in his identity, especially since identity is often scrutinized in a cliquey environment of Middle school. By comparing
Racial Identity Theory consists of five assumptions: Every member of society belongs to one or more groups of people; Belonging to a group influences a person’s worldview; The United States is a race centered society and operates on a hierarchy of racial groups; A racist social environment influences the process of racial identity development; As one develops socially, one grapples with racial identity (Brown et al., 1996; Helms, 1984, 1990, 1995; Parker, 1998; Ponterotto, 1993; Pope-Davis & ...
What is identity? Identity is an unbound formation which is created by racial construction and gender construction within an individual’s society even though it is often seen as a controlled piece of oneself. In Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum’s piece, “The Complexity of Identity: ‘Who Am I?’, Tatum asserts that identity is formed by “individual characteristics, family dynamics, historical factors, and social and political contexts” (Tatum 105). Tatum’s piece, “The Complexity of Identity: ‘Who Am I?’” creates a better understanding of how major obstacles such as racism and sexism shape our self identity.
While traditional Chicano identity was originally conceived as the backbone of the 1960s Chicano Civil Rights Movement, it is still an essential part of the Mexican-American identity today. The Chicano identity was important in unifying the broad base of Mexican people in America, allowing Chicanos today to grasp their heritage and refrain from assimilating into an Anglo-American culture. Rather than change, the definition of Chicano identity has progressed in order to accommodate to the environment of today’s society. The traditional Chicano identity, amidst the turbulent era of the “Sixties,” centered on a cultural nationalistic standpoint. Although at the time, nationalism was essential to unifying a wide group of people, it also came with
?A definition of race might rely on an outward manifestation such as color or some other physiological sign. Race and ethnicity (and to some degree nationality) also imply a shared socio-cultural heritage and belief system. Finally, race and ethnicity harbor a physiological self-identification. Indeed, this factor is perhaps the most important in defining the identity of an ?ethnic? or ?racial? individual. It implies a conscious desire on the part of a person to belong to an aggregate of people, which possesses unique cultural characteristics, rituals and manners and a unique value system.
People identify themselves by their colour, culture, language or religion. The identity goes back to generations and it doesn’t start or change within the individual. It is an evolutionary process where each person brings upon some changes. This is best described in Alice Walker’s short story, “Everyday Use';, where three characters, a mother and two daughters, are portrayed differently, each with its different qualities and philosophies on life that are often seen in generations.