Sociology: Identity

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Identity has been defined as ‘a sense of self that develops as the child differentiates from parents and family and takes a place in society.’ (Haralambos et al., 2008, p665) The communities are widely considered to have gone through multifarious fundamental alterations; namely, from urban industrial capitalism economy to post-industrialism economy; from modernity to postmodernity. This essay will critically examined the view with regard to contemporary individuals are no longer firmly bound into fixed communities rather having a greater choice as to identify with each other. Initially, the nature of communities’ shift will be analysed, followed by discussions of the factors and manifestation of theories inherent.

Industrial capitalism seems to be eventually steered to urbanization of society. In particular, construction of manufactories and basic transportations such as railways had contributed significantly (Fulcher and Scott, 2007, p501). In days gone by, manufacturing sector which emphasized on production and consumption of goods, involved great deals of physical and nature resources; thus, it acquired numerous manual workers, as a result of which industrial societies were emerged to be neighbouring factories due to long working period. The workers socialized within centralised area and had shared basic lifestyle and culture (e.g. folk culture), which gradually formed permanent identity and sense of solidarity; for instance, through inter-marriage, education, religion, occupation and family. High degree of immobility and interaction stimulated them attached into distinct social class. Isolated areas which had inadequate amenities including institutions and communication, subsequently conducted to social isolation, absence of community and suggested by Marx, the ‘false class consciousness’.

 ‘Industrial societies not only produce and distribute goods and services, they also produce and distribute information and entertainment.’ Industrialism has created mass production as well as mass media (ibid, p370). Instant communication has made information available to the societies promptly, conveniently and precisely. Contents interpreted by media are said conditioning media audience, for instance, magazine virtually supervise consumption tendency which interrelated with individuals’ identities. Besides, excessive violence and obscenities on screen may results in loss of innocence in childhood and increase of crime rate. Moreover, advent of it seems to have profound influence in the sustained and rapid growth of post-industrialism as well as globalization and consumerism.

Since 1980s, the old industrial societies that had manufacturing as fundamental economy was argued to be phased out and superseded by post-industrialism. It appears probable that development of mechanism, communication and information technologies were the constituent elements which spurred the rose of innovation, long distance trade and transport ameliorations (e.g. canals and roads); correspondingly, led to the downward trend of manufacturing sector (working class) and unprecedented increment of service sector (middle class) including widespread of institutions such as education, law and healthcare.

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Giddens and Castells argued that globalization is ‘a central driving force behind the rapid social, political and economic changes that are reshaping modern societies and world order’ (In Held et al., 1999). Globalisation seem to demolish barriers within and amidst the communities which ‘intensification caused by interconnectivity’ (Rantanen, 2004, p11). In economic globalisation, transnational companies (e.g. IT and fast food industries) are observed to infiltrate into region states, which bring about the issues as local economy being undermined consequently increasing international inequality. Global culture is seen as challenging the importance of national and local cultures, and nationalism as a ...

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