Long-Lasting Effects On Personal Identity

When did you realize you were an individual? Can you remember your first experience with language or your first lengthy separation from your parent or sibling? (122). There are many things that shape our identities culture, religion family and things we experience in our own life. For some people there’s a battle between society and one’s own identity, because they want to please both society and one’s own identity. There are many meanings of identity, and people from all over the world can have different opinions about it. Some might say that their identity is shaped by culture because it effects how we eat, dress, talk, and even sleep. Others may describe identity as the divergent personality of an individual. Identity is a condition of intelligence in which someone recognizes

their character qualities that leads to finding out who they are and what they do. Some people explore for their identity in order to understand their existence in life, at certain points of time. Most people can identify a number of important ways of distinguishing themselves that are unique enough to be considered their personal identify.

Some of these ways can be categorized by their spiritual affiliation, physical features, family roles, economic class, occupations, and professional attachments. When we examine our own identities, it gives us insight on the role identity plays in society and life. Many people believe that their identities can be shaped by their past experience because it helps them to learn from the mistakes so they will not repeat them again. Although there are many things that shape people identity, the three major things that can have long-lasting effects on their personal identities include family, friends, and media.

Firstly, family changes ones identities in many ways such as, it shapes how they act, who they are, what their values are, and especially how their identitiy is. Family plays a major role in shaping person’s life from the moment of their birth till the age of eighteen and even after that, family can still shape who they are no matter what age. But most specifically, family influences people identities when they are under eighteen years old. Jim Goldberg states, “This picture

says that we are a very emotional & tight family, like the three musketeers. Poverty sucks, but it brings us closer together” (137). By stating this, Goldberg shows the importance of family in one’s life. He also conveys the idea that no matter whether one is poor or rich, family keeps them close together, and teaches them a lesson that there is always family support, even in difficult times. Another way that proves how family shapes ones identities is where a daughter became a teacher because her father was a professor in the college. Also, People can be influence by their siblings. For example, your siblings can either become your responsibility, friend or your mentor. Some people can also have negative effects on their identity which are shaped by their family. An essay by Lan Tran called, Lone Stars, states, “This is my Father, a man to whom I can never give the right answers, to whom I am wrong because I am not Vietnamese enough” (142). This statement shows that the father is not pleased with his daughter because she is unaware of their culture background. Furthermore in the essay the daughter says, “Though my father’s word incite deep longing in others a vision of Vietnam free from communist what I hear incites anger and shame in me. I am an activist daughter, but from that moment on, I actively remain ignorant of his causes” (143). This shows that the behavior of her father made her feel angry and ashamed of her. But she still feels that it wasn’t her fault because its parents responsibility to teach their children the cultural values, family history, and most specifically how to act in difficult situation. Obviously, such examples people feel guilty, unworthy, and a lot of other negative thoughts about themselves.
Secondly, media have effects in shaping up our identities, especially today. Our identities are formed by the people around us. Our beliefs of who we are, how we live our lives, and what is important to us are shaped by the influence of mass media. It is something that is present during our whole lives in the form of film, newspapers, advertisements, books, music, and art. Media plays a massive role in the development of identities in today’s world. People are bare to communities, ideas, and places that can cause others to expose, even in many cases, media also tend to hide real identity. In the article, “Once upon a time” by Alonso Duralde, exclaims, “Breaking news! Ryan Evans is gay! Also the sun is hot and the sky is blue!” (171). This is an example to prove how media exposes ones identity, even though they might not want their identity to be exposed all over the world. Another example can be found in “The Empire of Images in Our World of Bodies,” by Susan Bordo where she states, “In 2002, Toddler versions of Brittney Spears were walking the streets on Halloween night. Can it really be that we now think dressing up our daughters up like tiny prostitutes is cute?” (153). She emphasizes the impact that magazines, internet, and television present the young girls body are things that will shape those little girls identities. Bordo also argues that such shows can have big influence on the other young girls if they watch such kinds of television programs because they have a big influence on young teens. Today, the media is playing a remarkable role in how women perceive their own identity. Even women bodies are been viewed by media prospective such as, when some women wear fishnets, or sky-high heels they are viewed as prostitutes even if they are not. This can have a big effect on females’ self-esteem, especially young girls. Media sets such ideals about women that are destroying many of women’s natural ability to handle with how they feel about themselves. Nevertheless, for a woman who is proud of her own body image, and feels in control of herself, the media simply represents these feelings for her.
Finally, Friends can also have an impact in the formation of our identity. There are many ways people develop their identities from friends. People support, inspire, compare, stifle, and compete amongst friends. They can shape ones identities both positive and negative ways. Friends are the one who influences important behaviors, attitudes, and characteristics. They can affect an individual’s attitudes about education or may support substance use. Friends also discuss important decisions related to identity formation that are influenced by their other friends: whether or not to break up, who to date, whom to communicate, using drugs, and skipping school. These big decisions help establish who an individual is, and they also represents that friends can play a considerable role in the decision‐making process. An example of how a friend can shape ones identity can be found in “Teenagers with Facial Piercing” by Uwe Krejci where he states, “No doubt, people of all ages pierce or decorate their bodies, but is there something about the teenage years that lends itself to experimentation with identity?” (165). When people hang out with the same people all the times, they get to start picking up the traits of that person so fast, whether they are bad or good. Teenagers tend to get more facial piercing as compared to other adults, because they adapt what their other friends do. Suppose, if one friend drinks and smokes, other people who hang out with that person, they will adopt those habits. Friends turn you into a different person, change ones view of the world, and change ones perception. For instance, if most people in a group think that a person is snobbish or egotistical then the whole group will get the same belief. Since believing that a group is treating a person in a bad way might be inferred as a signal that shows that the person is not that valuable then such a belief may change that person self confidence badly.
In conclusion, identity is something you cannot be born with. People get their identity as they grow up. Identity is something that makes one unique from other people. It can be taken both, positively and negatively. There can be many things that shape up our identities, but family, media, and friends can have long-lasting effects, and they play an important role to form our identities. These three things have an enduring effect in shaping our identities. Identity is difficult to understand, yet, it is essential to establish in all people.

Works Cited
Appleton, Josie. "The Body Piercing Project." Beyond Words Cultural Text for Reading and
Writing 3rd Edition. Boston: Pearson, 2010. 161-165.Print.
Bordo, Susan. “The Empire of Images in our World of Bodies.” Beyond Words Cultural Text for
Reading and Writing 3rd Edition. Boston: Pearson, 2010. 153-154.Print.
Duralde, Alonso. “Once Upon a Time.” Beyond Words Cultural Text for Reading and Writing
3rd Edition. Boston: Pearson, 2010. 171-172.Print.
Goldburg, Jim. “Images From Rich and Poor.” Beyond Words Cultural Text for Reading and
Writing 3rd Edition. Boston: Pearson, 2010. 136-137.Print.
Krejci, Uwe. “Teenagers With Facial Piercing.” Beyond Words Cultural Text for Reading and Writing 3rd Edition. Boston: Pearson, 2010. 165.Print.
Tran, Lan. “Lone Stars.” Beyond Words Cultural Text for Reading and Writing 3rd Edition.
Boston: Pearson, 2010. 142-143.Print.