Lawrence Steinberg Somewhere Between Belonging

Ambition For Understanding One source once stated, “Children begin to develop a sense of identity as individuals and as members of groups from their earliest interactions with others” (Trumbull and Pacheco 9). This quote displays the importance of developing a strong sense of cultural identity, structure, and association from a very young age. Being a part of something bigger than one’s self gives meaning to life, conceives a favorable lifestyle, and influences significant life decisions. In order to understand one’s cultural identity, he or she needs to understand what the term means.

The peer reviewed article “Ethnic and Racial Identity During Adolescence into Young Adulthood: An Integrated Conceptualization” is a well written article on the struggle that people of color face when coming face to face with their identity in social situations. Umana-Taylor, Quintana, Lee, Cross, Rivas-Drake, Schwartz and Seaton (2014) analyzed ethnic and racial identity or ERI and how it relates to important developments and issues from early childhood well on into young adulthood. They worked to find the most important milestones during the development or ERI as well (Umana-Taylor et. al 2014). This paper will consist of the information given from the article and how I’ve dealt with my own ERI.

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.

Every dog is a responsibility, and it takes a kind hearted person to go through the process of adoption. Through shelters it’s about an hour process to adopt. They ask for your current pets (if there is any) vet, the phone number of the vet, every one who lives in the house phone number, so they can call and see if they are okay with having a new furry friend in the house. They give scenarios that could possibly happen with a new puppy in the house for example, what do you do if the puppy is digging in the yard? Or what do you do if the mailman comes to the door and the dog starts barking? The process is long but it is worth it. The shelters even off puppy training classes that’ll teach them household manners, which includes potty training, leash training so that they will be able to go on walks without having to wear a harness. You get so much out of adoption that you don’t get from pet stores that will not offer. With my new adoption I was offered classes for him. Puppy classes, intermediate, therapy dogs, than k9 classes.

Identity can mean different things to different people, but for most people, it’s about one’s personality and experiences. The 21st century has seen young people in various parts of the globe have a preference for some desired identity, which they deem superior, rather than accept their own identities. For example, in Goin Gangsta, Choosin Cholista: Claiming Identity, Neil Bernstein makes a case on how a number of people have claimed ethnic individualities other than their own and this is not an evil obsession (Bernstein, 1995). In this essay, a girl named April and her friends (and by extension most young people) believe that “identity is not a matter of where you come from, what you were born into, or what colour your skin is, but it’s everything

The Helms White Racial Identity Development Model identifies six racial identity statuses (Sue & Sue, 2016). These statuses include contact, disintegration, reintegration, pseudo-independence, immersion/emersion, and autonomy. Each of these statuses identifies characteristics that individuals in these statuses have. I traveled through theses statuses and believe I am currently in the immersion/emersion status. During different points in the model, I learned about race and myself that allowed me to move through each status, and currently working towards entering autonomy.

In America, our identity often comes from the culture we live in and develop for ourselves. The identity of many Americans is also developed by their actions. Some groups develop an identity by speaking their native language, like some members of “Chinatown” in various American cities. Others develop their identities by the way they dress, music they listen to, and their sexual identity. We can clearly see some of the largest factors used to develop one’s identity is the area in which they live in and their actions throughout their day to day life. In Kenny Chesney’s song American Kids we see the development of identity from the hometowns and actions of these so called “kids.”

While I was there I asked one of the workers that have daily contact with these animals about what she thought about puppy mills and what would be a way to avoid them and the specialty about adopting a dog/puppy from the shelter. When I was talking to the worker Kayla Kirkpatrick she told me that “adopting a puppy/dog from the shelter gives that animals a second chance in life” replied Kirkpatrick. I would strongly agree with that statement because when an animal gets a second chance to them that means being able to start a new life with people that they can actually trust. I asked her another question on what she thinks about puppy mills in response Kayla said that “they are an animal's number one nightmare, because they don't understand what's going and when the end is coming near, because it's so to hold on any longer.” After speaking to Ms.Kirkpatrick I realized now that after talking to kirpatrick that animals are just like people and desire better and that they are not just a profit or yard ornament. on Ms.Kirkpatrick's request and everybody she works with would love to see people adopting from the shelter than

Establishing an identity has been called one of the most important milestones of adolescent development (Ruffin, 2009). Additionally, a central part of identity development includes ethnic identity (ACT for Youth, 2002). While some teens search

When I think of the word “cultural identity”, I think of myself, and what makes up who I am as a person. My cultural identity influences everything about me, from the moment I wake up, to the minute I rest my head on my pillow at night. My culture influences the way I eat, speak, worship, and interact with people. However, I am not only affected by my own culture, but others’ culture as well. I am fortunate to have an extremely rich heritage, and I couldn’t be prouder of my cultural identity.

Finding your identity can be hard for some people. Your identity obviously makes you who you are. Gloria Anzaldua’s ‘To Live in the Borderlands’ (1987) and Justin Simien’s ‘Dear White People’ (2014) had a couple things in common when related to identity. In the poem, she talks about being between the borderlands and trying to find who you are based on where you are from and where you are now. I see a similar concept of not being able to decide who you really are in several characters in ‘Dear White People.’ When I think of the struggles with identity in both the poem and the movie, I think of the tug-of-war game. The reader, or character in the movie, is in the middle and having both sides of who they are on each

There are particular assumptions regarding the racial identity and unique challenges of multiracial individuals of mixed African-American and European-American descent that have arisen based on historical trends. For example, it is assumed that multiracial individuals have been expected to identify as mono-racial African-Americans as a result of legal and social constructions (Monahan, 2014). In addition, theoretical literature suggests that this group of individuals have faced challenges in their racial identity development, struggling with various possible racial identities. Racial identity development and self-concept formation begins in childhood and is greatly affected by the attitudes and interaction of adults. The present study, researched

Similar to my family’s critical role in my personal and social identity’s development, my ethnicity also contributes some of the most noticeable modifications of a social agents affect on an individual’s personal and social identity. Ethnicity provides a sense of belonging to a group and or a place in a globalised society. As for myself, ethnicity on a micro, meso and macro scale has become a major element in my personal and social identity’s

While many models exist to describe the phenomenon of ethnic identity, the model in question is the Ethnic Identity Development model proposed by Phinney and Ong in 1992. Their theory contains underpinnings of both Erikson and Marcia and is divided into three stages: Unexamined Ethnic Identity, Moratorium, and Ethnic Identity Achievement. Phinney’s theory rests on the proposal that “individuals begin in a state of indifference, confusion, or minimal awareness about their ethnicity, and move toward more complex, flexible, and informed ways

Identity is a lifelong process no matter what race you are in. The parents must