Homophily And Ethnic Identity

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.

Many key concepts in chapters 3,4, and 8 are directly related. For example, affirming another person’s culture reinforces that identities are multiple and grow in spurts. There are similarities and differences in family and cultural group histories. Lastly, many people need explanation in an intercultural relationship, which may lead to multicultural identities. All of these things directly affect one another, specifically intercultural relationships. Consequently, an intercultural relationship contains all of these concepts.

Throughout the essay, Race, Culture, Identity: Misunderstood Connections, I found Kwame Anthony Appiah’s claims about social scripts to support my idea that we present ourselves differently depending on the circumstance. There are times when we try to play into the majority, as well as times where we try and fall into the minority; we choose which group we want to highlight depending on which will get us where we want to go.

While reading Recitatif, by Toni Morrison, there was racial identity between the main characters Roberta and Twyla. They are both different races. Throughout the story, both characters are increasingly changing. This does not help the readers figure out the race of each girl. They could be either white or black but they have many different traits. In the beginning of the story, it seems like Roberta was a black girl and Twyla was a white girl. There was tension between the two girls. Roberta and Twyla had to share a room together. Twyla felt sick that she must share a room with a girl that’s a different race. In the story, there was some tension towards black people. Twyla’s mom had told her that Roberta’s race never washed their hair and they

In my conclusion is that both ethnicity group and religion group that I chose to talk about have prejudice and discrimination but that is with most people that are not understanding and open mended to anything. When it comes down to it they are some similar in so many ways. They get judged on based on some one else’s ways but they can also be different because their language, cultures, and their background that will impact the religion group and ethnicity group.

Viewing the interactions between races and ethnicities is also important to observe. An ethnic group is a social category of people who share a common culture, such as a common language, a common religion, or common norms, customs, practices, and history. Ethnic groups have a consciousness of their common cultural bond. It is important to look at the role of social interaction and how it reduces racial and ethnic hostility and how race and ethnicity are socially constructed. “In essence, symbolic interactionists ask the question, ‘What happens when two people of different race or ethnicity come in contact with one another and how can such interracial or interethnic contact reduce hostility and conflict?’ Observing different characteristics and how the people interact with one another is important, because even though many differ in their ethnic and racial background, a common goal exists that they all share: to bring about a safe community where everyone feels accepted and wanted.

In his article, “People Like Us”, David Brooks sheds light on a topic that many Americans overlook. Brooks suggests that, as humans, we tend to self-segregate and congregate with people of similar backgrounds and cultures. Brooks provides several pieces of evidence that support his claim. In my short eighteen years on this Earth, I have to say I have seen examples of “self-segregation” myself, whether it be around my community, school, or elsewhere.

Racial identity (passing) alludes to an individual considered a part of one racial assembly additionally acknowledged as a part of an alternate racial gathering. The term was utilized particularly as a part of the U.S. to portray an individual of blended race legacy acclimatizing into the white larger part throughout times when lawful and social meetings of hypo descent arranged the individual as a minority, subject to racial isolation and segregation (Smedley).

This paper will identify the ethnic identifications within individuals. Ethnicity is part of everyone’s identity development. Individuals may have one ethnicity or multiple, depending on their current location, homelands, generations, religion, environment, language/dialect, physical appearance, and more. A cultural individual is considered ethnic either by being first, second, or third generation. According to Phinney (1989), there are four stages of ethnic identity development: diffuse, foreclosed, moratorium, and achieved. They describe when an individual explores or does not explore their own ethnicity, and accepting clarification and understanding of ethnicity. An individual can be placed within these stages throughout their developing lives. It is important to recognize these stages within an individual to better apprehend their identity and where they perceive their own identity in their position.

As a result, the native citizens may develop the prejudice against the immigrants because of the disparity and the diversity of cultures (Castles, Stephen, Haas, and Miller 18). Alternatively, it is true that individuals cannot believe in strangers until they are confident of their traits irrespective of whether they have good intentions or not. Therefore, the difference in the level of civilization may cause conflicts among the individuals because there is no shared understanding and trust. Also, people may clash or oppose each other’s opinions more often when they have different backgrounds since neither of them would allow criticism and discrimination all the time. The incidences are practical in many places such as the institutions of learning where individuals from different cultures may be considered enemies. Similarly, it is common in the work areas where employees segregation regarding cultural background (Castles, Stephen, Haas, and Miller 18). Moreover, the lack of trust may develop a due lack of a common language or type of religion, for an instant, the Muslims believe to be radical in terrorism all over the

Jaime is an 18-year-old Mexican American who lives with his mother and sister and has a baby with his current fiancée. He also attends a large urban high school. Within high school, Jaime encounters the challenges of being an immigrant and having a bicultural identity, develops resilience, understands the influences of his mother’s parenting style, and further develops his identity. He is nearing the end of his adolescence and beginning to show traits of an emerging adult.

21. Immigration and diversity not only reduce social capital between ethnic groups, but also within groups themselves.

In their respective studies, Croker (1991), Livingston (2010), Rowley (1998), and Hughes (1989), use the concept of self -esteem to name cultural identity. Monteith (1999) uses the concept of race attitude in place of identity. Hitlin (2003) uses the term of self-concept identity instead of cultural identity. He emphasizes that identity is a self-representation. Altschul (2006). Altschul (2006) utilizes the concept racial-ethnic-identity (REI) to name identity. Self-esteem and identity are the two frequently use in the literature read for this research.

“If we don’t fully understand our individual and collective roles in maintaining a system of white superiority, our relationships with people of color remains superficial, our ability to work in diverse workplaces is greatly diminished, and we fail to create a just world in which everyone has an equitable opportunity to contribute and thrive” (Kendall, 2013, p. 1). This paper discusses who I am as a cultural person and how I have come to be this way. The first section of this paper discusses my cultural background and my cultural identity. I address the factors that make up my cultural identity and the challenges that I have faced because of my cultural identity. The next section discusses my White racial identity development and the events in my life that have led me to become the person I am today in relation to my racial identity. The final section of this paper outlines the implications my own racial and cultural identity will have on my career as a clinical mental health counselor.

Cultural identity is the basis in which identification is used to express different aspects pertaining to identity and heritage. A person's cultural identity may be created by social organization, as well as traditions and customs within their lives. The two aspects that construct my cultural identity are the frequent chores I must complete every day in order to fulfill my behavioral expectations, and the youth group I attend weekly. These aspects are important to my family and me. Therefore, my identity has an immeasurable effect on my upbringing into this multi-cultural world I live in.