What Is Cultural Identity

The concept of identity has been discussed at great length throughout the years. One of the issues raised is whether we choose our identity or if it is chosen for us. There are in fact external factors that condition who we are. Yet, identity is shaped by us. Identity covers all the characteristics that define who a person is. This concept is complex as it includes several aspects, such as nationality, race, ethnicity, gender, religion, sexuality. It also relates to our thoughts, beliefs and ideas. Another fairly important factor is our name as it influences what other people think of us. Some names are considered more prestigious than others. Human beings are by nature sociable and gregarious. We need to communicate with others in order to learn and to acquire a number of characteristics that makes us humans. Therefore, cultural identity surely influences our personal identity. By communicating with other individuals, every person acquires several features of the culture they belong. Family and school have a significant role in transmitting that information, as they prepare us to fit in the community we live in. We inherit from our parents extremely important information, …show more content…
Actually, it is crucial to assimilate the characteristics of the culture we live in, such as traditions, attitudes, beliefs and ways of behaving. If people do not integrate into their society and culture, they may be socially excluded. Human beings do not live isolated, thus we constantly live new experiences that will inevitably condition who we are. However, we shape our own identity. In spite of being influenced by external factors, it is a continuous, individual, autonomous process. Hence, we choose our identity. In fact, there are not any entities that can rigidly determine and shape who we are, because it comes from the experiences that we live. That is to say, we construct our own identity and it reflects our personal