Cultural Identity Reflection Paper Who I am; my beliefs, values, morals, and views on diversity are shaped based upon my upbringing, the values within society, and the norms adopted by our culture. However, I can’t only thank these sources for whom I am; my own personal experiences and feelings have had a huge impact on my cultural views. My biases; I am aware of them (good), but they exist, and to some may seem bad. I want to take you on a journey inside my path to cultural identity. I think I was a pretty easy going teen growing up; as long as I had my eye liner and my eclectic group of friends by my side, it was going to be a good day. I went to school (preschool-12th grade) in a small community, predominantly white. There were …show more content…
I have already described 9/11 and scholarship issues, but I must say that I was shocked when the 2008 election took place. I have NEVER voted republican, but during the 2008 election, I felt I had no choice. Here was a man (Obama), running for president, when he had no real political experience, and to me, had no real promise of a better future, but he won. Headlines swarmed with the fact that people were voting for Obama (for racial reasons) that have never voted in their life. I was disappointed, but what put the final stake in the coffin was when I was considered racist because I didn’t vote for Obama. The fact that I had to defend myself against racism in a presidential election infuriates me (to this day). As far as “us white people” go vs. racism: it is a two way street! Are there White racists out there? Yes. Are there African American racists out there? Yes. I do not feel comfortable going into all of my views in this area because I feel like if I say what I feel, I will be considered racist, and be doomed in the counseling field. What I am going to say on this topic is this: slavery happened many years ago; was it awful? Yes. Does that warrant a race their own magazine, TV channel, award show, and college funds? Ummm no. My cultural and family biases that shaped who I am today? Well, my family feels the same way I do on many issues surrounding
According to the Hay’s addressing model, my cultural identities as a Latina woman of low socioeconomic status makes me part of non-dominant groups. My identities set me apart from the majority population which means that; I am perceived inferior than those of dominant groups. My lineage constitutes of indigenous ancestors that like me, share a darker skin tone that till this day is seen imperfect.
My cultural ancestry comes from a Cuban and Mexican decent. I have chosen to write about my Cuban side because I can relate to them more than I could with my Mexican side. I was raised around my Cuban family and would occasionally see my Mexican side due to them living so far away. I have spent a lot more time associating with Cubans and have adapted to more of their habits.
Though it does not come up in everyday thought, cultural identity is an idea that all humans possess. Abridged, cultural identity can be simply explained as the sharing of a similar culture by people of various ethnicities. However, cultural identity is more complex than that, defined by an individual’s values, beliefs, and ideas of moral behavior influenced by their culture. Furthermore, cultural identity is ever changing from individual to individual. This means that although two individuals may be of the same ethnicity, differences in circumstances may cause variations between the individuals’ personal beliefs. As a result of interracial interactions, multiculturalism has grown during the twenty-first century.
All my life people have always questioned my ethnicity. My mom says it makes me mysterious and intriguing. She says, "You look like you could be born in any part of the world". Any time I 'm in a crowd the question always comes up, "what 's your ethnicity?", "are you mixed with anything?”. I look at them and smile thinking in my head of course you just asked that. I give a big sigh and say "I 'm white and Pakistani". Some look at me with great confusion and ask, "What is that?" I hit them with a huge eye roll and I have to explain where Pakistan is located in Asia. I really think some people did not take World Geography because they 're still so lost. They usually just blurt with "oh, so you 're middle eastern?" It boggles my mind that
There is a Mexican man that enters with the rest of his family. They eat beans, rice, flour tortillas and etc. The family does there every day routine, the dad wakes up at six- thirty to go to work in his truck. The children go to school and the mother stays at home. The things a person does in their all has a reason which goes all back to culture. Culture is what makes up everyone different from one another. Texts such as “What is Cultural Identity?”, “Where Worlds Collide” and “Two ways to Belong” supports that depending on one’s culture it effects one perspective on the world and others.
Cultural Identity is “The definition of groups or individuals (by themselves or others) in terms of cultural or subcultural categories (including ethnicity, nationality, language, religion, and gender)” (Oxford Reference). Everyone has cultural identity even though some are unaware of theirs because their habits and traditions might be seen as normal to the person and they might not make the connection that it is a cultural tradition or connected to their cultural identity. Some people are very aware of their cultural identity and have conflict within their identity because the cultures may not coincide. Frida Kahlo’s Self Portrait: On the Borderline Between Mexico and the United States and Pat Mora’s “Legal Alien” both show cultural conflict through symbolism, conflict, and purpose.
In growing up in the position of the ‘other’ in society, Smith provides an empowered stance of identity exclusively through the demonstration of cultural hybridity, as evidenced by Millat and his gangster crew, the Raggastani’s. As Millat becomes increasingly connected to a swaggering identity highlighted by Western popular culture, his sense of belonging becomes established with the multicultural mix of South Asian and Caribbean teens he hangs out with: “It was a new breed, just recently joining the ranks of the other street crews. Becks, B-boys, Nation Brothers, Raggas, and Pakis; manifesting itself as a kind of cultural mongrel of the last three categories. Their ethos, their manifesto, if it could be called that, was equally a hybrid thing” (193). Here, Smith uses the Raggastani’s as a symbol representing the emerging identity of a multicultural London transformed by the migration of formerly colonized populations from South Asia and the Caribbean. Their mission, to put the “invincible back in Indian, the Bad-aaaass back in Bengali, the P-Funk back in Pakistani” (193), is about taking their identities which have been devalued in Western society and linking them together through a collective sense of approval. As a productive example of cultural hybridity taking place, they are a direct contrast with the forms of difference and racial purity that the Chalfen`s represent, and the resistance of letting go of traditions that their parents uphold. The group tries on a series
When Identifying my personal biases: as a black American male, I have biases when it comes to my
My dad leans over my shoulder as I check off the bolded “YES” box on my physical form. As I approach the Race section, I feel him tense up next to me. Without hesitation, I check off the “Black and/or African-American” box. Baffled, he asks, “Why did you check that box off? We aren’t Black.” I stared at his alarmed face in amusement, studying the ebony skin that envelops his being. Releasing an all-too-familiar sigh, I raise my bronzed arm to his.
No two people are the same. Race, ethnicity, gender, and age are all factors that make individuals different and unique. Throughout this paper, I will be discussing my values, beliefs and traditions, how I identify myself, and my attitude on diversity.
Culture is shared belief, values and practice (CNX). It is important that a person becomes part of a familial cultures and values because without it they would not be able to know what is considered right or wrong in the world. This paper, will talk about how Familiar cultures and values shape and influence individual’s identities. Familiar cultures and values shape and influence individual’s identities by shaping their personality, teaching them what they should value and affecting their behavior.
The purpose of this essay is to critically reflect on the new ideas I have learnt throughout this semester, ideas that has changed the way I understand the experiences of the Aboriginal and Torres strait islander people. The essay will also link my understanding of how cultural identity can influence health equity, using the CATSINaM’s definition of cultural safety.
An individual may not have a preference or choice they’re automatically born into their cultural identity by naturally acquiring their language, accustoms, and/or taught other cultural fundamentals. This may reflect different ways or aspects of how importance five-factor models of personality, language, or learned gestures may play a role in a family or their culture based on the majority and minority which speaks also as a method of communication. Understanding there’s another way identity labeling may intercept cultural similarities and dissimilarities, and through a reflection from 3 different cultures White, Chinese, and Indian. Their label may relate or changes how their identity may interconnect in a multicultural social groups,
Cultural identity refers to the feeling belonging to a certain culture that is attributed to the upbringing of an individual in the given culture. Cultural identity gives a person the sense of belonging and belonging towards their culture. Modern cultural studies show that cultural identification has taken a new face. Various cultural identifiers can be used to identify the culture of an individual. These identifiers include nationality, language, location, gender, religious beliefs, history, and ethnicity. Culture is important in shaping the identity of an individual. The efforts of people trying to preserve their cultural identities can bring about hatred and division in the society. This is likely to happen especially in large cities
At only a month old, my biological parents gave me up for adoption. Though adopted by a loving Native American mother and Hispanic father, I grew up feeling disconnected from my family. My disconnection stem from being lighter in complexion, acquiring different interests, and having other differences, which made relating to family members difficult. As a child, my mom tried sharing her Native American cultural identity by taking me to pow wows. At pow Wows, I remember seeing tribal members having a brown complexion along with dark hair performing festival dances, and thinking this could never be me. With my white complexion and light brown hair, I could never identify myself as being Native American.