“Identity” can be seen as a person’s perception of themselves, however, it is becoming more prominent to define “identity” in a social way or how people express themselves based on the demand for acceptance by others. Chris Cunningham, in “To Watch the Faces of the Poor”: Life Magazine and the Mythology of Rural Poverty in the Great Depression”, details the desire for middle-class citizens to be viewed as or compared to “the pioneer” due to the positive reputation given by the media (200).…
still facing discrimination. Yes, we have recently passed protective legislation, but there is a long way to go before we reach equal protection. My goal is to find a way to achieve true equality amongst the different sexual orientations and gender identities. Growing up, I was always treated differently, but it took me years to figure out why. Ever since fifth grade, I was bullied for being different. I was afraid to go to school. I had been beaten up for seemingly no reason. What made me…
answer—various interpretations have been made. Many factors are involved with identity such as social and cultural notions of gender, race, ethnicity, and sexual orientation. Although determining ones self-identity can be rather difficult, there are artists that focus on expressing identity that allow for a more simple understanding of it. Nancy Burson and Catherine Opie are two exceptional examples of artists that project a sense of identity through manners of fluidity, “otherness,” and…
During the early nineteenth century, generations of immigrant women undergo assimilation to unite themselves in American customs. The ideology that they will be accepted into a society that does not suppress their gender identity has driven them to this process but they blindly forget their origin culture. America’s “opportunities” is proved an illusion when the “American Dream” influences many foreigners to reevaluate their lives and social standings upon arrival. The illusion of upward…
Identity, as is, is hard to define for yourself. Kids struggle to find themselves every day, dodging social norms left and right. How can someone feel like they are their true self and still be liked for who they are? Or will people just be forever judged and have to mask their identity to the world? Many people around the world are pushed down in their communities for religion, gender, or sexuality and may have to hide from authority and their peers. Although the people in America still deal…
Society categorizes people based on a variety of pre-existing labels. Self-identity is the awareness of oneself and one’s own unique traits. Throughout Middlesex, characters develop their own sense of belonging. The narrator's parents, Eleutherios (Lefty) Stephanides and Desdemona Stephanides are from a Greek Orthodox religion and soon become Americans. Their first son, Chapter Eleven is a hippie. Calliope or simply Cal, the narrator, is a hermaphrodite. Belonging to an extended family with…
A person or an individual is known by his or her identity though various aspects such as name of the person, country, class, culture, religion, way of lifestyle, gender, profession etc. With the help of these aspects an individual is identified in the society. When the individual faces struggle in his life, he is unable to identify himself with the country or culture he is living with. Due to this crisis of racism and identity, he searches for his home where he can develop as an individual, find…
I am mixed racially, my Father's side is black and my Mother's white. Ethnically, the white in my family primarily comes from Ireland and the black a mix of latin-afro cultures in the Caribbean. It's a weird mix (one just about everyone seems to have an opinion or joke about) but because of the mix, I've seen a lot of the privileges or disadvantages that come with not only being mixed-race but proud as well. Speaking to the Irish in me, while they are white and therefore have an undisputable…
Individual Reflection The social identities that I identify with would be age, ethnicity, gender, religion, sexual orientation, educational background, and language. I would identify with these social identities because they describe who I am. I am a 32-year-old heterosexual male of European descent who speaks English, is a Christian, has completed a vocational course in Automotive technology, Military training as a diesel mechanic, an Associates of Science in Pre-Nursing, and is currently…
Bianca’s race/ ethnicity and social class impact her identity beliefs. Bianca’s identity beliefs derive, in large part, from her understanding and internalization of socialization messages receive from her family and suburban community. Bianca’s, upper class, class allows social and economic advantages that other youths might not have. Bianca’s decreased exposure to personal and societal racism, poverty and minorities will affect her social views, and how healthy she adjusts to social…