Identity

Aim: How do we identify the forces of influence on our own lives? 

Quick Write: Make a list of at least five things, people, places or events that have influenced you. Select one and write about it in a well-organized paragraph. In your response, be sure to explain the significance of what you’ve chosen, and discuss how this has changed you.

Identity and Where it Comes From

We are born within a culture, and during the first stages of life we learn our culture. This process is sometimes referred to as our socialization. Each society transfers to its members the value system underlying its culture. Children learn how to understand and use signs and symbols whose meanings change arbitrarily from one culture to another. Without this process the child would be unable to exist within a given culture. Imagine what would happen if your children could not understand the meaning of a red traffic light. There is no objective reason for red to mean 'stop', or green to mean 'go'. Parents and family, school, friends and the mass media, particularly television - all of them contribute to the socialization of children and, often, we are not even aware that we are part of this process.

What have been the biggest influences in your socialization?

Culture is lived in a different way by each of us. Each person is a mixture of their culture, their own individual characteristics and their experience. This process is further enriched if you are living with two or more cultures at the same time. For instance, as a second-generation immigrant, you may be learning your culture of origin within the family and the culture of the country where you live at school and through the media.

Identity

Who am I? What am I? Identity is like culture, there are many aspects to it, some hidden some visible. One way of looking at this could be to imagine yourself as an onion (even if you don't like to eat them). Each layer corresponds to a different part of your identity.

Question 1: What are the most important things that make up your identity? Write them next to the numbers 1 -5, with number 1 being the most important to you.

Some of these will be related to:

• the roles you play in life: a daughter, a friend, a school student, a baker, a banker;
• the parts of your identity you may be able to choose: fan of a certain type of music, member of a political party, style of clothes;
• where you were born, where you now live;
• belonging to a minority or not;
• your gender and your sexuality;
• your religion
• and, perhaps strangely, what you are not or don't want to be: not a woman, not a socialist, not French, not an alcoholic.

Consider the diagram below.

Question 2: Determine if you agree or disagree with what this diagram is saying. What is the relationship between the individual (you) and the world and other outside influences? Who determines who you are? What factors do you have control over? What factors control you? Answer in a well-developed paragraph with a topic sentence, supporting details, and a conclusion. 

***Don't forget to complete and turn in your "Six Elements of Engagement Daily Self-Tracker" before leaving class.***

What's Due

• Selfie poster
• Letter to me
• First post
• Essential Questions worksheet
• Today's Workshop

****Always check Engrade for your up-to-the-minute progress in this class.****