Preview

Describe How Relational Identities Are Often Characterised by Inequality.

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1016 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Describe How Relational Identities Are Often Characterised by Inequality.
Social inequality influences all aspects of our lives. The following essay will look at evidence highlighting inequalities in society today. In particular it will focus upon how relational identities are often characterized by inequality. Firstly, the essay will begin with a definition of the meaning of Social Identity and how these identities are created. Secondly, I will discuss some relevant facts in relation to how disabled people experience inequality on a day to day basis bringing into discussion how discrimination has had an impact for disabled people in House of Commons outlining an example of a recent case of discrimination, namely Paul Maynard, the Tory MP with cerebral palsy. Finally I will evaluate the discussion and conclude by summarizing the main reasons why anti-discrimination towards disabled people should built in to society to allow everyone to have a valued place.

Social identity is an identity given by connections to other people and social situations things (Making Social Lives, 2019, p.167). People can have multiple identities. Some example of identities a person can embrace are group or collective identities, situated identities, given by immediate situation which can change (a person can be a guest or a host), and relational identities, usually given by two-sided, sometimes unequal, relationship. Identity is constructed by how we see ourselves and how we think other people perceive us. People of the same nationality or age, for instance, can be named as having a common identity. It follows that in virtue of belonging to more than one group, or ‘’collective identity’’, we all have multiple identities. Identities can be both personal and in connection with others, social. For instance a shopper will no longer be a shopper when they have returned from shopping. On the other hand for some, shopping might also feel like part of ‘who I am’ which is a way of expressing personal identity. Identity can connect and also disconnect people.

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Best Essays

    Howard, Judith A. "Social Psychology of Identities." Annual Review of Sociology 26.No. (2000): 367-93. Social Psychology of Identities. Web. 2015.…

    • 1648 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Best Essays
  • Good Essays

    People often ask what is the correct definition of identity but identity can have a million definition based on the person describing it. Some people think identity is based on actions, or religion or culture. People make judgements on people identity through hearing what you do for a living or where that person is at what time. An ‘identity’ is the image that represents a person and differentiate that person from the rest of the world. It makes person unique as it is a self-representation of a person interests and character.…

    • 1587 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Tma2 131

    • 978 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Identity is a term used difficult to pin point and describe but often refers to ourselves in first person to explain who we are in terms of age, race, sexuality etc. However, this may lead to people being classed together via a group or collective identity. This is referrered to as a social identity which is ‘An identity given by connections to other people and social situations.’ (Taylor et al., 2009, p167)…

    • 978 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    For many a personal identity evolves over the course of one’s life. Personal identity is demonstrated through many aspects such as the way one dresses or their occupation. However it is really defined by ones interactions with others. How one interacts with others in society shows what kind of people they are. Whether they may be introverts or extroverts’ society labels them.…

    • 581 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    In our social life, each person has one’s own roles and responsibilities, attitudes and values. Since every individual is unique and distinct compared to one another, these elements that construct our individuality are not always similar. Similarities and reflection of our values make us belong to a group, but the differences are barriers that stop ourselves from being recognized as an indivisible part of it. Belonging and identity are inseparable; nonetheless, there are distinctions that create a world of difference between the two. Belonging is not only about to whom we incorporate ourselves the way we perceive it, but also how others recognize our relationship with that group. Therefore, it can be forged; since we can control our approach to a group, we are able direct the people’s opinion about ourselves. This is because most people observe only what is visible and that is our belonging. Our absolute and real identity remains imperceptible; this is because it is not only about how others recognize us, but also how we identify ourselves as complete individuals. Sometimes belonging comes undesirably and not few deny their relationships with groups which they are born to belong. Even when one’s relationship is not genuine it can still create an impression of belonging, at least for those who are unable to perceive the integrity of that connection. From this pseudo-notion our roles and responsibilities emerge; at this point, belonging and recognition (both personally and socially) dissolve although not completely combine, into a single entity that fits in a considerable part of the identity puzzle as a whole. Hence, in a sense, one can hardly associate and not identify with a group to which one belongs.…

    • 1302 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Since the political revolutions of the eighteenth century, social and political thinkers have challenged ostensibly rational justifications for inequalities based on gender, race, and ethnicity. Disability has been largely absent from that effort, despite its prominence in debates over equality. Not only has disability justified the inequality of disabled people but of other groups as well. the argument that the disabled identity has been used throughout history to argue both for and against the equality of marginalized groups—disability is either assigned to the marginalized, or the marginalized reject the disabled label in order to justify gains on their part. Disability has functioned historically to justify inequality for disabled people themselves, but it has also done so for women and minority groups. That is, not only has it been considered justifiable to treat disabled people unequally, but the concept of…

    • 580 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Best Essays

    Yet within contemporary society inequality, oppression and discrimination are still being experienced by distinct groups, one of which is individual’s with physical disabilities.…

    • 3635 Words
    • 15 Pages
    Best Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Psychologist Erik Erikson defines identity as ‘a sense of continuity over time as a being or entity that is different from others’ (Clarke, 2009, Pg252). We all have our own identities that are different than the person stood next to us, but he believed that it doesn’t stay the same identity throughout a person’s lifetime. We all go through different stages during our lifetime; babies, childhood, adolescence, adulthood and then to old age – Each forging a new identity for us not only based on past experiences but on conflicts and experiences that challenge us in everyday life and the future.…

    • 1397 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Social Identity Theory

    • 1127 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Social identity is a piece of an individual’s self-concept derived from participating in a social group of similarity. It has…

    • 1127 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    The Social Identity Theory

    • 3208 Words
    • 13 Pages

    A social identity is an element of a person’s self-concept, which is a derivative of a supposed membership in a certain significant social group. The social identity theory, as at first put together by John Turner and Henri Tajfel in the 70s and 80s, was able to introduce the idea of a social identity as a means in which to give an explanation about inter-group behavior (Kolak & Martin, 1991). The social identity theory can best be described as a speculation, which is able to predict specific inter-group relationships and behavior based on known group status distinctions, the apparent stability and authenticity of those status distinctions, as well as the perceived capability of moving from one group to the other. As a result, this concept…

    • 3208 Words
    • 13 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    The term is defined as a sense of individual that based on his or her group membership (McLeod, 2008). According to Rodriguez and Jaclyn (2015), social identity includes the group connections that are “recognized as being part of the self.” For example, person’s image of herself as a blue-collar worker, or a conservative. It appears that groups give people a sense of social identity and belonging to the social world (McLeod, 2008). Moreover, it could be argued that when people have a sense of belonging to one group, it divides to the different sections, that is, being ‘us’ and being ‘them.’ Therefore, it becomes the in-group and out-group. Furthermore, in-group can possible discriminate against the out-group to enhance their self-image. The in-group and out-group can be shown by, for instance, social class: middle class and working class, or occupation: police and housekeeper (McLeod, 2008). Therefore, social identity is the way people identify themselves which related to other people; for instance, they will identify themselves concerning to religion (Buddhist or Christian), relationship (son, father, brother), and professional (teacher,…

    • 690 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Rob Thomas

    • 865 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Social Identity: the individual defined in terms of his or her membership in various social groups (race, gender, nationality and social class)…

    • 865 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Identity Nd Belonging

    • 1984 Words
    • 8 Pages

    Identity is who we are and what our beliefs and values are. Our identity helps others to know more about us, helps them to perceive us as an individual rather than judging us on the basis of the groups that we belong to or the people we interact with. In spite of this, Belonging to a group requires various forms of change in a person’s identity, which in turn leave the individual with multiple or inconsistent identities. We realize that if it had not been for the existence of the people who are around us, we probably would have not turned out the way we are. Friends and peers have a positive or negative influence. We tend to hide a part of…

    • 1984 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    What have I learnt

    • 639 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Explore our own multiple identities; make a personal inventory of social identities that shape our socialisation…

    • 639 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    What Is Social Identity

    • 616 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Who are we? Many individuals believe that the fulfillment of one’s life is ultimately to find one’s purpose. It is this search for our purpose that leads us to finding out who we really are. Our true selves; hard working or lazy, Christian or Muslim, music lover or music maker, it is this search for purpose that unveils our true being.…

    • 616 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays