The journey of the perception of an individual’s identity originates from birth and may perpetuate to assume multifarious dimensions over the course of a lifetime. While some dimensions of their identity are predetermined depending on the biological characteristics, sexual orientation, country of birth, race, ethnicity, religion and historic period they are born into; other dimensions are acquired through travel, migration or global changes. The identity of an individual vastly varies even within generations, rendering its complexity. This essay will focus on how my family history and cultural heritage of belonging to a minority sect of conservative South Indian Iyengar has shaped my racial and cultural identity. It will analyse the attributes of the cultural values I have adopted and ideologies I have distanced from to assimilate myself as an immigrant Australian.
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The term culture, race and ethnicity are often used interchangeably, however to gain a perspective on how each of these dynamics contribute in developing one’s identity examining their definition becomes essential. Carter (1995) defines culture as the transference of knowledge of skills, attitudes and behaviours between generations, occurring within the boundaries of a physical environment; positing a view that culture is a learned behaviour. Culture represents the large system level, where in the product of human interaction lies. The distinction between the social and physical contexts depending on whether they are chosen or imposed is what eventuates the arise of subcultures (Carter, 1995 ; Gielen, Draguns & Fish, 2008). Therefore there is a possibility that several groups may possess distinct cultural patterns while simultaneously sharing the common cultural patterns needed for their functioning in the larger society (Carter, 1995; Laungani,2007). The definition of ethnicity also varies considerably from being referred to as
The term culture, race and ethnicity are often used interchangeably, however to gain a perspective on how each of these dynamics contribute in developing one’s identity examining their definition becomes essential. Carter (1995) defines culture as the transference of knowledge of skills, attitudes and behaviours between generations, occurring within the boundaries of a physical environment; positing a view that culture is a learned behaviour. Culture represents the large system level, where in the product of human interaction lies. The distinction between the social and physical contexts depending on whether they are chosen or imposed is what eventuates the arise of subcultures (Carter, 1995 ; Gielen, Draguns & Fish, 2008). Therefore there is a possibility that several groups may possess distinct cultural patterns while simultaneously sharing the common cultural patterns needed for their functioning in the larger society (Carter, 1995; Laungani,2007). The definition of ethnicity also varies considerably from being referred to as