Paragraph 3: symbols’ role in construction of id.
- Symbols possess their own identity.
- People who use the symbol of The Star of David are most likely Jewish and their identities are immediately related to that of the Jewish faith.
- In a way symbols are convey the identity of the object or group which they represent.
- The school I attended, has a very distinctive badge, this badge conveys the identity of the school and identifies the wearers as members.
- Prefects tie???
Paragraph 4: What control do we have in shaping our identities
- Through out this essay, the theme of incorporating identities that are ascribed to the activities we part-take in, the people we interact with or the symbols we use. This is something that I believe we do throughout the construction of our identities. Using the example of activities; members of the Klu-Klux Klan (KKK) automatically assimilate the identity associated with that group i.e. one of extreme right-wing views and of violent action and speech against so-called “impure” people
- We have extreme control (hermits have supreme control over their own identities) but even these peoples’ identities are shapes by the opinion of others. They are VIEWED as hermits.
- Question of: If you are alone on an island, do you have an identity.
- The form that your identity takes or the way it is shapes is ultimately dependant on the perceptions of those around you.
Paragraph 5: Conclusion
- The form that your identity takes or the way it is shapes is ultimately dependant on the perceptions of those around you.
- You need other people or the opinions of others to confirm your identity.
Assignment 1 – Identity
Through careful analysis of what one’s identity is, the forms it takes and the powers that influence its formation, I hope to answer the following question:
Do we have absolute control over the development of our identities or is it governed by the perceptions of those around us?
I will do this by proposing and opposing various views, introducing ideas and examples from my own knowledge and experience, analyzing them and giving my conclusion at the end. Identities, as much as the perceptions of beauty, are in the eyes of the beholders, they are shaped and moulded by them but do we have the often-said “very little control over” their construction or is it completely in our own hands.
The construction of identities is generally more often than not attributed to the way in which people perceive you and your personality, the way you act around people, the manner in which you talk and the way in which you interact with them. These are hence used as a measure on which people formulate opinions of you. It is these opinions that eventually are associated with you and so become your identity. The activities in which one participates have their own identities assigned to them. This identity is often transferred or incorporated into the identities of those who participate in the activity. Many activities or occupations even have stigmas attached. I am a male ballet dancer and there is a very big stigma attached. Whenever it is brought up that I do classical dance. I receive looks of incredulity or disbelief from most guys and comments like “Oh wow, are you serious, how lovely” from girls. This is the way in which they perceive me. Their thought processes are as follows: Ballet – Girls’ activity – He is male? – He must be gay; absolute gender stereotyping. Admittedly this is a generalization on my part (not all people think this) but it has had an effect on the way in which people perceive me, the way in which I perceive people and as a result, my identity.
“Social identity is formed through the sharing of symbolic repertoire”1. Symbols are the “face” of the identities they represent, i.e. they influence your subsequent thought processes, and lead you to bring the identities that are embodied by them to mind. Take, for instance the Hammer and Sickle on the background of the Red star; this immediately brings to mind the thoughts of old Soviet Russia, Communism, war, etc. Or the New Zealand rugby team’s Haka bringing to mind rugby, traditional Maoris and supremacy. All these identities are epitomized by single images. These symbols can be used to mask differences and convey a scene of belonging to those fitting under the umbrella of that identity (Communism in Russia)
So, symbols convey the identity of the object or group that they represent. The school I attended has a very distinctive uniform; this uniform conveys the identity of the school and identifies the wearers as members. People associate the uniform with the reputation, or identity, of the school and expect wearers to live up to the principles associated with such a school.
Throughout this essay, the theme of incorporating identities that are associated with the activities in which we part-take, the people with whom we interact or the symbols we use, arises repeatedly. This is something that I believe we do throughout the construction of our identities. Using the example of the male dancer. Male dancers automatically assimilate the identity of male dancing, and all the stigmas that go with it. It is not the dancer’s choice to accept this identity; it is his preordained sex that results in other people’s opinions being attached to him and his identity. You can say that it was his choice to dance, but people’s opinions assign themselves to ALL activities or identities in life: where you shop (Woolworths vs. Pep), where you go to school (Rondebosch High vs. Langa High), how you dress (Diesel vs. Stone Harbour) etc.
We do have extreme control (hermits have supreme control over their own identities) but even these people’s identities are shapes by the opinions of others. They are VIEWED as hermits.
In my life, the most important social identity is that I do classical dance. It influences a lot of things that I do. People, who know me, realize that it just something that I enjoy doing and I do not buy into the identity associated with ballet (be it though it is still incorporated in to my identity). By not humbly standing by, hiding the fact that I dance and feeling self-conscious that people look on me differently, I feel that I have overcome some of the constrictions placed on me by society. Ironically these constrictions are actually quite dependant on my reactions to them. We are too often the ones who confirm the opinions that others have about us.
In conclusion, identities are socially constructed, they are represented by certain symbols and other people play a large part in the development of our identities. The question still remains: Do we have absolute control over the development of our identities or is it governed by the perceptions of those around us? One can look at in another way: If you are on an island and there are no other people with you, do you have an identity? My answer is no. The form that your identity takes or the way it is shaped is ultimately dependant on the perceptions of those around you. You need other people or the opinions of others to confirm or deny your identity.
References
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Ideas expanded on in Critical Thinking tutorial groups and lectures. Quote was taken from the lecture on Wednesday 10th march. I do not know the name of the speaker.