On your own, make an identity chart (background info) that includes how you see yourself and identities important to you, but also how you are seen (or think you are seen) by society or others, using this handout/example. YOU DO NOT NEED TO POST THIS, BUT YOU SHOULD BRING IT TO CLASS.
For this post, think about the following: In what ways do you get choose your identity? In what ways is it chosen for you? Do you notice a trend in who gets to decide which aspects? Do any identities or attributes/behaviors seem more managed or directed than others? By whom?
By Zara
When we are born, it’s usually declared that we are either a boy or girl. As the time goes by and we start to feel and see things according to our own perspective and have our own opinion that’s when we actually get to know our identity. Often we are told to wear certain clothing and colors and styles that people think will look “good” on us. For instance, If a girl starts to dress more in sweats and baggy clothing they are often told to act more lady like and wear dresses. Same thing goes for a guy when he starts to wear certain bright colors or does something which according to the society is very feminine they are often told to change it and be more masculine.
It’s very easy for others to tell us what we should or shouldn’t wear, how we should or shouldn’t behave and etc. People who are overly concerned with the impression they make, or who feel a core aspect of themselves, such as gender or sexuality, is not being expressed, can struggle acutely with their identity.
In the culture that I have grown up in, identity has a big impact on us. As we grow up we are treated the way we behave or react. It is important for my family to have an identity that can be seen by others and not judged upon. I am seen as a woman, who is independent in my culture. I am seen as an independent woman because I am focusing on my own career instead of waiting upon my parents or to be married to depend on me. I often believe it is a trend in the “brown culture”. When I say this I mean in my culture we are treated very strictly so our identity does not get “ruined” or affect our families in any way. I choose my identity by standing up for myself between family and society. Some behaviors seen by others seem often direct. I have females in my family such as cousins who do what they want and do not care what society identifies them as. Which is often unacceptable by the community I have grown up in.