Definition Essay: What Is Identity?

What is identity? The definition as a person’s own sense of whom they are, which their past defines them. Identity is very important in our society, no matter your social status. I can attach identity to belonging to something or a place. As a human race, we feel the need to belong to a group or place. Because belonging to a group or place, give us the sense of identity.

Identity meaning the condition of being oneself or itself, and not another; the qualities, beliefs, etc., that distinguish or identify a person or thing. In other words, your identity is the main thing that separates you from the other seven billion people on your planet, if you don’t know your identity then who are you? Although, everyone has a special skill or talent that makes you unique no matter how small your gift may seem. People have skills and talents in areas such as playing an instrument, playing sports, being creative, artistic, acting, singing, etc. People realize their gifts at different stages in their lives. When each of us brings our individual talents and skills together, the world becomes a masterpiece of a painting.

What is identity? A normal person would think that it’s simply defined as who we are. However, there are many definitions of identity, as it can mean differently for others. Identity is what makes us unique from one another because there is no one else like us. Since our surroundings, such as the people we meet and places we go to, possess a role into shaping who we are, we are constantly changing. As we grow up and become curious, we experiences many things and start to see different sides of ourselves. We start to question our individuality, to the point where we may struggle with whom we really are. Similar to Janie Crawford in the novel Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston, Janie struggles with identity. Throughout

to separate themselves from an undifferentiated unity with their mother”. (Source 4). Identity is the sense of who each person are as individuals and as a member of the social group. It grows in response to both internal and external factors. Different type of identities developed during different environmental, circumstances, and time.

There is approximately 7.5 billion humans on this Earth, and you are the only one with your identity. You are the only one who smiles the way you do, thinks the way you do, and lives life the way you do. But what exactly is identity? Identity is basically who you are as a person. There are many ways to forge an identity, you were born with an identity and as you live life, you learn more about yourself.

Identity is how distinguishes oneself from everyone else. There are thousands of different kinds of identities, and each identity represents an individual. Marcus Tullius Cicero and Mary Wollstonecraft also examined the meaning of identity. In their books—On duties and A Vindication of the Rights of Women With Strictures on Political and Moral Subjects. Both authors describe identity of the individual as being derived or formed through their social roles and education. These two things help distinguish the individual from others and give them virtue, which is essential for forming our identity.

Identity, it is who you are as a person. Some people may wonder, how is my identity formed? Don’t I get to choose who I am as a person? Well to me, there is no clear answer to that question. Some of the things you experience in your life and people you meet will permanently change who you are are and shape your identity. However, there are also some experiences that you cannot let affect you or define you as a person and you need to move on and forget about them. In the stories that we have received there are many ways that they show how your identity is formed. There are also many experiences in my life that show how my own identity was formed and also prove that sometimes you can't help that experiences shape your identity, but sometimes you can brush them off and they will

Identity, as loosely described by the speakers, is something that defines us - a definition I too would use. Our identity can consist of our interests and characteristics, among many other factors. It is our title, and sometimes even our purpose; and all things involved are shaped overtime by the ever-changing circumstances we face.

Identity is defined as “the fact of being who or what a person or thing is.” Identity is determined by characteristics and traits of a person. A person's identity come from a variety of places, people, and things around them. Identity is not something that stays consistent and it is something that can easily change throughout one’s lifetime. This ranges from their age, to their passions, and beyond. Even though I am only fifteen years old, my identity has changed drastically throughout my life. Personally there are many things that encompass my identity. These are my ethnicity, race, gender, age, interests, and more. When given the Identity Wheel, many of the identifiers stood out to me, but the most was religion. Also, I noticed that in the

Identity is what your life is based and built on. Identity is what shows who you are and what you do. Identity is also an important thing in your life because without it no one would know you are. Although some may argue that your environment has the biggest impact on a person’s identity, friends have the biggest impact on a person’s identity because they’ve been there for you for mostly your whole life and help you out with problems.

Identity is how one presented themselves to the world that is influenced by peers, religion, values, etc. Ones identity is presented when we communicate with other whether its a conversation, negotiation, challenge, etc. Depending on who you may be talking to, your identity is that emphasized could differ. For instance one may present them self differently around their friends where it is more relaxed than in a work setting where it is more professional. When someone is communicating the use of language structure, formality, and apparel will differ as well. According to Dr.Jim Tayor, "we unwittingly sacrifice our true self-identities and shape our identities to conform to what the digital world views as acceptable identity." (Taylor, 2011)

In other cases, however, identity is a more indefinite, philosophical, and psychological concept. One’s identity is one’s sense of self, how one is defined on a deeper

Identity can be thought of as the complete satisfaction of one's self. The word "identity" can be defined in many different ways since everyone is different. Identity could be based on morals and how one maintains or neglects one's values and handles the different situations life may give. Often times, people do not make understanding their identity as one of their priorities therefore, identity would be left unnoticed. I claim that identity is both fluid and static throughout one's life, in addition one outweighs the other depending on the situation that is encountered. Identity fluctuates throughout life and I believe maturity and time have a major impact. Situations where one is a minor such as gender, religion, behavioral, and personal relationships are more static and less fluid, but as one undergoes puberty those identities become more fluid and less static and when one becomes a fully matured adult the identities can change again and become more static and less fluid.

Identity is very difficult to fully comprehend, but it is vital to the purpose of every man, woman, and child that has lived and ever will live on the earth. As precisely expressed by Erik Erikson, “In the social jungle of human existence, there is no feeling of being alive without a sense of identity.” As defined by Merriam-Webster, identity is “The distinguishing character or personality of an individual.” However, this definition falls short of the true meaning of the word, as it does not openly state the deciding factor for the perception of a person’s identity. For this reason, it is necessary to redefine the word in order to properly convey its meaning to those that do not fully understand it, as well as clarify by whom it is ascertained. Identity is how one perceives oneself, based primarily on the behaviors exhibited by this person.

Identity is a complex aspect of someone’s life. It is a combination of how people view others, how someone views himself, and how their community is seen by others. These still can be split even more into infinite dimensions which are combined to create a unique identity. Identity is also an inconstant part of life as it is manipulated by the people, environment, and activities at the moment.