Introduction College and university life is a critical period; because students are actively exploring their identities and attempting to define themselves. Acar, Yigit and Aslan (2016) argued that, “while personal identity is about personal values and beliefs, cultural identity is related to the common beliefs, norms and ideas represented in distinct cultures” (p.106). As described by Jourdan (2006), ethnic identity is an essential characteristic that provides a sense of belonging and commitment to a certain ethnic group. Johnson, and Lambie (2012) argue that unlike racial identity that highlights physical characteristics such as skin color, ethnic identity incorporates the achievement or preservation of cultural characteristics that define …show more content…
Family, parent’s position about heritage, communication with children about culture has an important role in ethnic identity development. Yet, other factors such as age, gender, and parents’ socioeconomic status, have been examined in ethnic identity development. Family environment is a significant factor in shaping and developing ethnic identity. Jourdan (2006) in her research found that the “family members influence how individuals come to understand themselves in the world, and they have been considered to be important influences on individuals’ self-esteem” (p.11). In addition to higher self-esteem, individuals who are secure with their own ethnic identity, interact with “greater flexibility” and openness toward those with other cultural backgrounds. Scholars have discussed how important it is for families to connect with their ethnic group to create a positive self-image and eventually higher self-esteem in themselves and in their children (Davey, Fish, and Robila, …show more content…
the percentage of same-ethnic peers in school has significant effect on establishing and advancement of ethnic identity. As Douglass, Mirpuri, and Yip. (2017) mentioned, students whose close friends are predominantly from same ethnic background more likely to have social interactions and become more active; such interactions will smooth and ease their engagement in class and campus activities. According to Douglass, Mirpuri, and Yip (2017), “Over time, with repeated exposure to these intimate social interactions, ethnic identity may become an increasingly important aspect of one’s overall identity” (p.313). A positive sense of ethnic identity has a positive relationship with the desire to socialization with others from different racial and ethnic backgrounds. Forming friendship among students from different cultural and ethnic identities proven to be a great help in development of the students’ ethnic identity. According to Kawabata, and Crick, (2015), the role of friendships, particularly cross-ethnic friendships is noticeable in ethnically diverse classrooms. “Cross-ethnic friendships are the relational context for promoting positive attitudes toward peers from different ethnic groups and reducing cognitive biases and negative emotions”
According to most, ethnicity usually is displayed in the values, attitudes, lifestyles, customs, rituals, and personality types of individuals who identify with particular ethnic groups. Ethnic identifications and memberships in an ethnic group has farreaching effects on both groups and individuals, controlling assess to opportunities in life, feeling of well being and mastery over the futures of one's child and future. These feelings of belonging and attachment to a certain group of people for whatever reason are a basic feature of the human condition. These ties are called "ethnic ties" and the group of people that one is tied to is an "ethnic group." In the general sense, an ethnic group consists of those who share a unique social and cultural heritage that is passed on from generation to generation.
In this paper I will present the numerous theories built around the process of establishing one’s identity and provide examples of how this identity shapes a students involvement and actions while in school. I will also reflect on the importance for systems that foster identity formation that is equal for both inner-city and suburban children. It is crucial to the success of America’s schools to understand that a mixture of cultures creates a mixture of identi...
It has been said that the physical variations in the human species have no meaning except the social one that humans put on them. Society has placed stigmas on race dating all the way back to the 1600s. Still in the 21st century the American society is still trying to work through racial boundaries. With such stigmas being placed on them, biracial individuals often self-identify or be identified by others differently, depending on the social context. A biracial individual’s racial identity development is contingent upon many factors, both internal and external. With the dramatic increase in the number of individuals with a bi or multiracial background it is important for us to recognize the complexity of the racial identity development of this culture. It is critical to understand the hardships as well as the advantages of being biracial, to help them avoid any negative behaviors which could yield lifelong consequences. The healthy development of one’s racial identity is imperative for a biracial child to be able to achieve and maintain a positive psychological and social adjustment throughout the lifespan.
According to Steinberg (1996) many believe that biculturalism is more successful than the other four. With biculturalism minority youth have access to the norms of the majority and minority culture depending on the situation.
When we think about our identity we often think about the way we look. Such features as hair color, eye color, skin tone, height and weight come to mind. Whilst these features are part of our identity, there are many more complex factors that make us who we are. Whilst psychological issues are paramount to the formation of our identity, I will be addressing the nature of our identity in relation to socio-cultural factors (Austin, 2002, p.9). During the course of this essay I will be discussing the term of Identity and some of the axes of identity, including Race, Class and Gender. It is important to understand some of the significant issues of identity so that we have more of an understanding of who and what we are, which in turn may help us to begin to better understand others.
When analyzing aspects of our identity that shape our attitude, behaviors and experiences we must include concepts of sex, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender, age, socioeconomic class, religion, and ability. It’s essential that we understand our own and others identities in order to better understand our social relationships and our interactions with one another.
Ethnicity significantly influences the formation of an individuals identity and experiences of belonging. Every cultural background has its own guide of morals and values which places expectations on each individual to follow. The various elements of a certain background influence family life and general structure, greatly influencing a persons formation of identity, and ways an individual may experience belonging. Other impacts that may have an effect on ethnicity for various people today include globalisation, increased mobility and migration.
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.
In today’s society the high influx of interracial marriages between Black and White individuals has resulted in the biracial population increasing significantly over the past 30 years (Roth, 2005). According to the 2010 census, the number of American children that categorize themselves as biracial has increased to 4.2 million, making it the quickest emergent youth group in the United States (Census, 2010). This has led to interest in the biracial population; recent literature has shown that amongst many studies, “individuals perceive the relationship between their mixed parentage and their self identity differently” (Rockquemore & Brunsma, 2002). This is significant in the area of child development and family studies because self-identity begins to surface during child development, the dynamics of biracial children brings up the question as to how they construct their racial identity. Due to the understanding in recent literature that being biracial can lead to feeling between both racial categories while dually feeling marginalized (Rockquemore et al., 2002); this paper will examine the nature of racial identity formation and the consequences’ black/white biracial identity can have on individuals to further address the need for additional research and attention on the biracial experience.
In a nation whose population is growing increasingly diverse and where minority groups continue to grow, it is unsurprising that ethic identity may play an important role in the mental health of individuals in the U.S. Though the constructs of ethnic identity vary across studies, the general consensus is self-identification within a specific ethnic group (i.e. Hispanic, Asian, etc.), inclusion within this group, and display of appropriate group traits. As a component of one’s identity, ethnic identity may be related to important aspects of mental health such as self-esteem.
Racial identity is focused on the social and political impact of group membership. On the other hand, ethnicity is related to race, but extends beyond group membership. Ethnicity also explains why groups of individuals consider themselves to be distinct people, and refers to a shared worldview, language, and behaviors associated with cultural heritage. Ethnic identity is occasionally used to refer to ethnic group membership, and is fundamental to an adolescent’s identity because it includes the feelings and attitudes associated with that
According to Fredrik Barth, ethnic identity is constructed or converted through the interaction of social groups through a process of inclusion and exclusion that establishes boundaries between these groups, defining who belongs and who doesn’t. For Garifunas this process of globalization has forced them to analyze their own ethnic group as a form of organization, and social organization of cultural differences. This means that, both in and out of the group, social relationships are organized from cultural differences. The effects of migration and globalization have caused Garifunas to look at themselves and their ethnicity as a continuous process of dichotomization between members and outsiders, who demand to be expressed and validated in
Does society influence us or do we influence it? The thought of whether the society shapes us or individuals shape our behaviors and culture is extremely dubious and won't be replied whatsoever, possibly since it goes both ways. We have all been brought up in a society around individuals who impart to us bunches of characters and statuses or else we couldn't have been conveying like now and imparting thoughts and that answers and clarifies whether it is nature or nurture. It's a reality that what has formed our dispositions and who we are currently is a mixture of interior and outer compels, for example, socialization, education, and drives of all sorts. These interior and outer impacts have even been demonstrated and delineated by numerous sociologists- Jean Piaget, Sigmund Freud, Herbert Mead. One of the stars that I truly acknowledge is Ahmed Zaki, the Egyptian actor. He had dependably been imaginative in all his works and had been conveying significant messages and showing lessons in life that have been once in a while known around individuals and passed on to the general population. I accept that Zaki came to be as innovative and of service as he is to the society because of how he was socialized. When he understood that he ended up in educating individuals by his movies and plays and acknowledged those morals and ethics he chose to work by them. Socialization is essentially the predominant outside compel that influences an individual's perspective to the planet. While very nearly all individuals are occupied to adapt up to the quickly progressing life and its profits, I accept he is one of the few actors who showed his own perspectives fearlessly without dread or shame. He called for the equity and fairness to all individual...
Some of these factors include where people live, as well as assumptions about gender, race, ethnicity, and other things in like them. These factors will shape, at least partly, how, when, and where identity is expressed and/or recognized by others. (Stapleton, 2015) The final key aspect of identity is that it is “Affected by Education”. Education can have a long lasting impact on identities.
The way a person behaves is a reflection of how and where they were raised. From birth, we are taught to behave a certain way and have certain family expectations that we must meet that will then play a key role in shaping our identity. But family is not the only factor that influences identity, friends and environment help shape our identity too. Family, friends and environment help shape our identity greatly from the beginning of life up till adulthood.