How Can Personal Identity Be Proofed As Cultural Identity?

Caws, Peter. "Identity: Cultural, Transcultural and Multicultural." Multiculturalism. A Critical Reader. David Theo Goldberg,Ed. Malden, Massachusetts:Blackwell Publishers. 1994 371-386.

Stuart Hall defines identity as an ‘already accomplished fact, which the new cultural practices then represent’. We should think instead of ‘identity as a ‘production’ which is never complete, always in process, and always constituted within, not outside, representation’ (Hall 1994 p.392). An individual’s sense of belonging to a particular group, thinking, feelings and behaviour can also be referred to as identity. One’s cultural image can construct identity; such features as hair, skin tone and height. History shapes our identity.

As previously stated in this paper, forming cultural identity may be more complicated today than ever. However, it is a critical part of a total structure of collective and individual identity. Based on the text, models of ethnic and cultural identity have increased dramatically over the last few decades. Today, most ethnic groups are accepting the fact that the United States is the most ethically diverse place to live and to raise a

My cultural identity, as I know is Mexican American because both my parents are born in Mexico and I was born here. I can also be defined as a Chicana because that is another way used to call a Mexican American. My culture can be seen in so many different ways like for example it can be seen in food, music, religion, dance, art, festivals, and even more. Most of these traditions have changed a little bit over time as they were brought to the U.S. What I mean by that is that some of those traditions were brought from Mexico, and had a little change into them because they were combined with some traditions that have already been here in the U.S.

Race can first be classified by the geographic place of origin of a people group, but can also be visually identified by shared physical characteristics such as skin color, hair color and texture, and facial features. When defining culture, I think of my own which encompasses: traditions and customs; general values and ethics; political influences; religious influences; technological influences; historical influences; gender roles/expectations; social class; social status; economic status; education; language, including its proper and improper use; and something I may have overlooked prior to my required readings for this paper- race.

Most people call me Colby, but on the field i'm know as number 40. Soccer has been a part of my life since I was 3, my 12 years of experience have influenced how I act, what I eat and most aspects of my life-like who I hang out with and what I dislike. In the United states especially, sports are a huge part of everyone's cultural identity. With all this in mind I would call my cultural identity a soccer game. It can change in a blink of the eye but is consistent through life.My family is like the other players, education is like the field and my hobbies are like the ball.

The word "identity" inspired many writers in our contemporary world, toarticulate their ideas and state their suggestions in a way to find a precise definition for such a word, especially where the globalization has become a fact which produces with it many effectual consequences. Some writers had linked Identity with the original culture to which a person may belong, others dealt with it as a changing factor transformed according to every ones status,however a third category characterized the Identity from another angel in view of religious or ideological background. Huntington being one of the leading writers in this sphere has imagined a future world witnesses a clash of civilizations.According to his categorizationfrom a cultural perspective however; the world shall be divided into eight civilizations. This essay shall shed a light into the different understandings of theidentity and culture as in relation to Islam and the West having reference to different arguments and visions presented in the following scholarly sources.

Cultural identity is a part of the psychological self-concept that expresses an individual or group’s worldview and perceived cultural affiliations. The first step in finding a societal fit is to establish a cultural identity; this can be on an individual level and group level. Who am I? And where do I belong? These questions start to form in the human mind from an early age; it drives humans to explore their worldviews and how and where they fit in the world. Rosenfeld (1971) argued it is a deep-seated primal process that has ensured our continual survival. By finding others that think and act similarly we are offered some protection (Erickson, as cited in Carducci 2015). Erickson (as cited in Carducci, 2015) and Maslow (as cited in Mcleod 2007) argued that the need to belong is a basic building block of human development. Whatever the reason, the consensus is that humans have an intrinsic need to find a like-minded cultural group to belong to; this chosen affiliation is their cultural identity. A person may identify with more than one cultural

The notable French film critic Jean Luc Godard once proclaimed, “Sometimes reality is too complex. Stories give it form.” Intricately woven into the tales, a variety of lessons and moral values are introduced to listeners as they follow the often light hearted plots of traditional stories. From the grasslands of Ghana to the Mesoamerican pyramids of Mexico, storytellers have been utilizing the art of metaphorical imagery to entertain - both the young and old - for centuries. Clearly, the art of storytelling is not geographically confined to a single region; several different cultural groups have utilized the artform and have taken advantage of the unique qualities it has to offer. Being a direct descendent of such cultural groups has given me the opportunity to learn a variety of lessons from traditional stories passed down my lineage while slowly become more in-tune with my cultural identity.

“Ni de aqui, ni de alla,” – “not from here, nor there”, a saying all too familiar to my ears. As a first-generation Mexican-American this prominent saying allows for the expression of the frustration of being stuck in the middle of two cultures. Being the product of two resilient Mexican immigrants that religiously preached the enormous value of an education influenced my upbringing down to its very core. Perhaps, it’s the fact that parents like my own, whose educational knowledge was halted in the sixth grade, aspire to live their dreams through their children.

Mexico is a part of my cultural identity, My family and I are all Catholics, I was raised to believe in God and La Virgen de Guadalupe. Not only that, but both of my parents are from Oaxaca, Mexico. They were born and raised in a small town close to Huitzo. A big celebration for us Mexicans is Celebrating Los Quince años this is a big deal and is mostly meant for girls. A Quinceanera is to celebrate your daughter's transition from a girl to a young lady when you reach the age of 15. I got to have a Quinceanera a couple months after my birthday because January is a cold month, so we didn't want that to interfere with the party. Having a Quinceanera takes a year or more to plan because you have to make sure everything is perfect, not only that, but it also isn't cheap at all.

Mexico is a part of my cultural identity, My family and I are all Catholics I was raised to belief in God and La Virgen de Guadalupe. Not only that but both of my parents are from Oaxaca, Mexico. They were born and raised in a small town close to Huitzo. A big celebration for us Mexicans is Celebrating Los Quince anos this is a big deal and is mostly meant for girls. A Quinceanera is to celebrate your daughter's transition from a girl to a young lady when you reach the age of 15. I got to have a Quinceanera a couple months after my birthday because January is a cold month so we didn't want that to interfere with the party. Having a Quinceanera takes a year or more to plan because you have to make sure everything is perfect, not only that but it also isn't cheap at all.

My high school experience was marked by distinct changes and the ultimate formation of my cultural and social identity. Growing up in Washington D.C., I attended Gonzaga College High School, an all-boys Catholic high school that had a major impact on the things I value and the beliefs I hold. I entered high school with unbounded optimism: I had worked hard to get in and I was determined to make the most of my four years. Back then, “making the most” of high school was centered around who I was from a social standpoint. My only previous perception of high school had been the dramatized blur of wild house parties that I had seen on TV, but I quickly found myself taking a different path.

Fitting in with other guys at school has proven to be very difficult. Growing up without a father figure in my life is a very large piece of the puzzle that is my cultural identity. The day that my father died was a tragic and mournful day, but my 6 year-old self didn’t quite comprehend how my loss of a father figure would impact me growing up and the kinds of friends I made. Only having my Sister and mother as my influences proved to be hurtful to my ability to talk to other guys. I didn’t have anyone to talk about sports with or play catch with. This wasn’t as much of a problem in first or second grade, but going into 4th grade and transitioning into Junior High, problems arose in the area involving making friends. Feelings of uncertainty and worry concerning where I had fit in my school began to rise up inside me.

As an Egyptian Indian-Arab American who grew up in the primarily Caucasian city of Woodland, California, I have learned how affecting representation can be. When I was living in Woodland, my family was one of the very few Indian or Arab families there. Most of my peers were white or Hispanic, and I was the only Indian girl at my school. As a result, I did experience the ignorance of several of my peers. Remarks about Osama Bin Laden and the Taliban were common. I often heard insults about my traditional foods or customs. Driving an hour every Sunday to go to the nearest Sikh temple or mosque was a normal part of life. I truly began to hate my culture, my religion, and my traditions. I felt ashamed of my heritage and desperately wanted to change this part of me. Then, in the middle of my freshmen year, my family and I moved to Yuba City, a city affectionately known as "Mini Punjab", and everything changed.