had short hair, but nowadays many women have short "boyish" cuts and men are even growing their hair long. It is still very rare to find men wearing make-up unless they are cross dressing.
There is also genetic evidence which can be used to differentiate between men and women. This is done with a DNA test, which in women would present two X chromosomes and in men one X and one Y chromosome. Generally people would only have two sex chromosomes, but on the rare occasion there have been people with more than two, and in these cases they could be defined either way, male or female.
There are many aspects to identity, and there are several dimensions to each of these aspects. Culturally, where we come from, different religions, beliefs and values that we may have. Class, our economic background, education and the lifestyle we have. Occupation and Income. Life experience and upbringing. Change. Biology and Genetics. Society. All the factors that make up a person's identity are so complex and often intertwined, it is impossible to any one of them, but all are ever changing and always developing, which is why the identity of a person is always changing and forming.
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In what ways can occupation and employment affect identity?
Occupation plays a great role in who we are. In earlier times it was men who went out to work and were the sole breadwinners, while women stayed at home to care for their children and the home. In more recent times, although men are generally the primary breadwinners, there are a significant number of women who are in paid employment. Many women go out to work to help support their families financially and in few cases are even the main earner, but nowadays there are a large number of women who choose to have careers before, as well as or instead of having families.
As much as the occupation or career path that a person chooses has an impact on their identity, often their identity itself would have played a key role in them choosing that occupation. For example, a person who has grown up with professional parents is probably more likely to take on a higher managerial or professional career path. This can also be because they are more likely to have the financial resources to go to university. A person who has grown up with a less fortunate upbringing, or parents who live off the state is more likely to follow in their footsteps and choose not to go out to work but also to rely on
state benefits. Otherwise they may choose an occupation in manual labour, such as construction. This may also be because they have not had the education or opportunities to study towards a profession. A man who has had a harder upbringing may have a macho identity and therefore choose to work in an
environment that is more commonly associated with masculinity, i.e. plumbers, builders, or they may even join the army. So as well as choosing an occupation according to your identity, a particular occupation can affect your identity. For example, doctors are stereotypically wealthy, to keep up with the image that doctors or similar professionals carry, they may socialize in groups of people in similar professions, such as doctors, dentists, surgeons, psychologists, psychiatrists etc. They may be members at clubs such as health clubs or golf or tennis clubs, which in itself portrays an image of wealth or upper class. Then at the other end of the scale, a manual labourer such as a builder or mechanic would be more likely to socialize with people who are in similar trades, and socialize in bars and pubs, and are stereotyped as heavy drinkers and they portray rougher macho image.
The environment in which a person works will have an impact on their identity. In a professional environment, you would be expected to dress smartly and behave professionally. Especially in a managerial position, you would dress and
behave in a way that demands respect and trust from your employees. Whereas in an occupation such as hairdressing, fashion or beauty, you would dress in a more trendy fashion as you are selling an image to your clientele.
The colleagues with whom you work often become a part of your social group of peers. It is more likely that people will socialize in circles of people with
common occupations or similar earning power.
As well as "putting food on the table, clothes on our backs and a roof over our heads", employment provides us with a sense of worth, it feeds our pride. Someone who is unemployed, whether or not by choice, may be labeled as lazy and useless, and have a general lack of respect from society. Especially if it is not by their own choice, they probably feel worthless. Although it is now common for women to go out to work, men still see their roles as the main breadwinner. Where once that was their role, and the women stayed at home to look after the needs of their husbands and children, women are now holding down high-powered jobs, as well as still seeing to the general needs of their families.
Occupation and income are both important aspects of identity, who we are, how we see ourselves, how we represent ourselves and how others see us.
