To What Extent Is Our ‘Identity’ Chosen for Us?
To what extent is our ‘identity’ chosen for us?
What is identity? Where does identity come from?
For some identity is who we are as a whole and according to the Oxford English Dictionary identity is ‘prove or recognise who or what a person or thing is’. Oxford Dictionary of Sociology on the other hand starts off with a three page explanation on how identity came about. In this essay we will look at the issue of identity using the macro perspective, structural functionalism and hopefully reach as conclusion.
When looking at the subject of identity they are what can be seen as many differing types such as the inner self, ME, I, the personal identity and of course the social identity. The inner self refers to the ‘little voice’ in our heads Blackmore (1999) described this as ‘the real you’ and claimed that it is the part of the person which thinks, dreams and controls memories, therefore it is seen to persist throughout the life span giving a sort of continuity. Personal identity or Self-identity on the other hand, is how we see ourselves; it is seen as public and visible. On the personal side it is seen as things such as birth records, passports even medical and career files. Self-identity could be seen as nurtured by the individual, it is a mixture of socialisation between own thoughts, peer pressure and knowledge gained from outside forces such as books and the internet, even media pressure. Social identity is based upon factors such as class, age, gender, ethnicity and region it can also be based on ‘memberships of social groups’ Haralambos & Langley (2008). From society we are socialised through norms and values which are enforced by family, institutions such as schools and religion. Today however the issues of class, gender and region are not as strictly enforced due to changes with society and the social movement of individuals. G H Mead (1967) claimed that a basic feature of human beings is the possession of a sense of self. Social
What is identity? Where does identity come from?
For some identity is who we are as a whole and according to the Oxford English Dictionary identity is ‘prove or recognise who or what a person or thing is’. Oxford Dictionary of Sociology on the other hand starts off with a three page explanation on how identity came about. In this essay we will look at the issue of identity using the macro perspective, structural functionalism and hopefully reach as conclusion.
When looking at the subject of identity they are what can be seen as many differing types such as the inner self, ME, I, the personal identity and of course the social identity. The inner self refers to the ‘little voice’ in our heads Blackmore (1999) described this as ‘the real you’ and claimed that it is the part of the person which thinks, dreams and controls memories, therefore it is seen to persist throughout the life span giving a sort of continuity. Personal identity or Self-identity on the other hand, is how we see ourselves; it is seen as public and visible. On the personal side it is seen as things such as birth records, passports even medical and career files. Self-identity could be seen as nurtured by the individual, it is a mixture of socialisation between own thoughts, peer pressure and knowledge gained from outside forces such as books and the internet, even media pressure. Social identity is based upon factors such as class, age, gender, ethnicity and region it can also be based on ‘memberships of social groups’ Haralambos & Langley (2008). From society we are socialised through norms and values which are enforced by family, institutions such as schools and religion. Today however the issues of class, gender and region are not as strictly enforced due to changes with society and the social movement of individuals. G H Mead (1967) claimed that a basic feature of human beings is the possession of a sense of self. Social
Bibliography: Bauman Z. (1996) From pilgrimage to tourist – a short history of identity. In Hall S. & du Gay P. (eds) 1996) Blackmore S Cooley C. H. (2009) Human Nature and Social Order. Richardson Goffman E Haralambos M. & Langley P. (2008) Sociology in Focus 2nd Ed. Scotprint, Haddington, East Lothian Jenkins R Mead G.H. (1967) Mind, Self and Society: 1 (Works of George Herbert Mead). New edition. University of Chicago Press Witz A. & Woodward K. (ed) (2000) Questioning Identity: Gender, Class Nation Routledge; London Blackmore S. (1999) The meme machine. Oxford: Oxford University Press Cooley C Goffman E. (1969) The presentation of self in everyday life. Harmondsworth: Penguin Haralambos M Jenkins R. (1996) Social Identity Routledge; London Mead G.H