My Culture: What Makes Me Who I Am

My culture is one of the biggest and most important factors that define who I am. I am who I am for many reasons but the main reason that I am Lida is because of my upbringing and where I come from. According to Merriam-Webster dictionary, culture is “ the beliefs, customs, arts, etc., of a particular society, group, place, or time.” Culture is a very broad term, but in the Armenian community or race, it is the way you are supposed to live your life and the things you can or cannot do. There are certain rules and roles one has to take to make their families proud and to not bring shame to them and their family name. With that said, I strongly believe that because of my culture, I am more sensitive to the generalized other and the looking glass self. “All the world 's a stage, and all the men and women merely players; they have their exits and their entrances (William Shakespeare; As you Like It).” This quote from …show more content…
Throughout my essay I have listed some of the most important attributions that my culture has given me that has helped me become who I am today. Surely, getting good grades, not having sex before marriage, or marrying within my own race does not solely define my entire sense of self, but it does point out some of the biggest expectations and explanations as to why I am the way I am. Throughout my childhood, role-taking and its four stages (preparatory, play, game, generalized other) have helped me understand my cultural expectations and adapt and accept those cultural expectations. In a similar way, the looking glass self has helped me understand how members of society and my parents perceive who I am. Through social interactions with members of society and my family, I have come to the idea that I am in fact a good person, one with valuable assets, good cultural beliefs, and most importantly an Armenian girl who makes her family