Defining Culture and Identities Essay Example
When looking at what and how people define themselves, we have to explore the aspects that create identity and how different aspects exclude people compared to the similarities which build groups and societies.
People’s multiple identities are given by their similarities and differences, and their connections with others.’ [1] When considering identity it is import to look at the elements that contribute to the idea of identity. Identity elements range from situational reasons, which can just be temporary to identities based on personal characteristics such as racial, gender and age, which are a constant. Identities of class, place, race and ethnicity vary within context but are difficult to separate, as they are very relational. For example, Jon Rabans account in Section 2.1 [2] regarding peoples attitudes towards the homeless illustrates how each individual’s histories does not dictate how other people perceive them.
In the Guardian article, there is an equal argument for both view points although it is illustrated in a way that is very much the official (Trevor Phillips) vs the people of the area as their opinions and statements are very different. Philips describes a [3] ‘passive apartheid’ in the countryside. My first observation of this statement was that it was an incredibly bold one (it does in fact offend a member of the community later on in the article) as an apartheid is famously recognized as the segregation between white and black people historically in places like the UK, the US and more recently, South Africa. This emotive statement is sweeping as it describes a ‘mutual incomprehension’ between villagers and ethnic minorities. It is mentioned, however, throughout the Guardian article that this difference in treatment of people based on their skin colour is not out of racism but out of a joint ignorance of other cultures. ‘This is not by anybody’s will; there is no law and I doubt if anybody in the countryside wants to keep people out’
People’s multiple identities are given by their similarities and differences, and their connections with others.’ [1] When considering identity it is import to look at the elements that contribute to the idea of identity. Identity elements range from situational reasons, which can just be temporary to identities based on personal characteristics such as racial, gender and age, which are a constant. Identities of class, place, race and ethnicity vary within context but are difficult to separate, as they are very relational. For example, Jon Rabans account in Section 2.1 [2] regarding peoples attitudes towards the homeless illustrates how each individual’s histories does not dictate how other people perceive them.
In the Guardian article, there is an equal argument for both view points although it is illustrated in a way that is very much the official (Trevor Phillips) vs the people of the area as their opinions and statements are very different. Philips describes a [3] ‘passive apartheid’ in the countryside. My first observation of this statement was that it was an incredibly bold one (it does in fact offend a member of the community later on in the article) as an apartheid is famously recognized as the segregation between white and black people historically in places like the UK, the US and more recently, South Africa. This emotive statement is sweeping as it describes a ‘mutual incomprehension’ between villagers and ethnic minorities. It is mentioned, however, throughout the Guardian article that this difference in treatment of people based on their skin colour is not out of racism but out of a joint ignorance of other cultures. ‘This is not by anybody’s will; there is no law and I doubt if anybody in the countryside wants to keep people out’