Please answer the following in this week’s journal entry. There are two parts to this journal entry. You must have at least 350 words written in this journal entry.
Total Points Possible: 50
- For this Module 4, Unit 4, in complete sentences, discuss all of the different ways in which you can tell someone is a member of your cultural/ethnic group. In your mind, what is necessary for one to be an authentic member of your cultural/ethnic group (e.g., knowledge of the group, language fluency, geographic residency in the country for at least 4 years . . .)? Provide reasons and discuss.
- In addition, share any insights you gained from any of the video snapshots included in this Week 4, Unit 4.
Snapshot #1 on Identity: CNN’s In America Website
Snapshot #2 on Identity: Third Culture Identity Video
Snapshot #3: Cultural Identity in the UK and Mexican American Cultural Identity Video Clips
Snapshot #4: Cultural Identity and Adoption
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2T8s_i7PmAEYOiss64MnSQwsv6EwlymD (Links to an external site.)
*In this link, there will be a listing of Youtube episodes about a Korean American male — Dan Matthews who was adopted into a White/European American family — who reconnects with his Korean family in Korea. The series was fascinating — please watch all the episodes!
Identity & Intercultural Communication: Identity Mapping
COMM 174 – Module/Unit #4
Dr. Halualani
1
What is Identity?
Identity as:
Personal Self
Group Membership
Think of all the labels you would use to describe who you are or your identity.
2
What is Identity?
We all have multiple identities.
It’s human nature to want to “fit in” as well as to be unique.
Some identities are visible, others are less apparent.
Some identities are accepted, some are taboo.
You continually gain, lose, or change certain aspects of your identity, while others are fixed.
Context shapes identities.
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Social Identity Mapping Exercise
4
5
6
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What is Identity?
The labels you thought of are likely context-based or group oriented, social classifications.
Next, take one of those labels – if you had to give one of those up, which one would it be and why?
Most individuals would not give up their ethnic identity.
Think about the following questions:
How do you know someone is a member of the same group? How do people know that you are a member of the group?
What could account for the discrepancy between how you identify yourself and how someone else identifies you?
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What Is Identity?
Core Identity: the attributes that we think make us unique as individuals
• including traits, behaviors, beliefs, values, or skills
Given Identity: the attributes or conditions that we had no choice in, from birth or later
• including birthplace, age, sex, physical characteristics, certain family roles, possibly religion
Chosen Identity: the status or attributes or skills that we choose
• including occupation, hobbies, political affiliation, where we live, certain family roles, possibly religion
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Three Perspectives of Identity (from M & N, Chapter 5)
1) Social Psychological Perspective of Identity
Group membership (like “culture”) determines identity. (collective self vs. individual self; relationships vs. independence) (culture bound identities)
Cultural identity (can be ethnic group or some other social grouping you belong to that you identify closely with)
Ethnic identity = the degree to which one feels a sense of belonging to a specific group bound together by a shared language, religious faith, history, set of traditions, values, and symbols, religion, and or nationality. (ethnic labels, how you fill out forms/census)
Cultural identity also considers the extent to which an individual engages in behaviors associated with a group.
Cultural identity /ethnic identity considers the degree to which you actively participate in the behaviors, practices, and traditions associated with a group.
Fill out the “Cultural Identity Scale” in the Content portion of Week 4, Unit 4.
Our identities develop in stages.
Gender identities form between 1-3 years.
Ethnic & racial identities form between 7-9 years
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Three Perspectives of Identity (from M & N, Chapter 5)
2) A Communication Perspective of Identity
Identity is created through communication with others.
Weider & Pratt reading – On Being a Recognizable Indian Among Indians
deals with the ? – How do you know that you are part of cultural group?
identity resides within social interaction:
behaving, acting, doing of a cultural identity
others must recognize such enactment
as a real cultural member, you must recognize others’ actions as being real or not real.
Who is an Indian? How does a real Indian make himself or herself recognizable as a real Indian?
reticence with regard to interaction with strangers
acceptance of obligations
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Three Perspectives of Identity (from M & N, Chapter 5)
Weider & Pratt reading – On Being a Recognizable Indian Among Indians
razzing
attaining harmony in face-to-face relations
modesty and “doing one’s own part”
taking on familial relations
permissible and required silence
public speaking — formal/impromptu public speaking (by elders who speak for them)
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**Identity Matching Theory
Identity Matching Theory (Collier & Thomas)
An avowed identity refers to a person’s perception of her or his self (self-image).
An ascribed identity refers to others’ perceptions of you.
If your ascription of one’s identity matches her or his avowed identity, it is likely that you will have a successful intercultural interaction.
HERE
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Three Perspectives of Identity (from M & N, Chapter 5)
3) Critical Perspective of Identity
Identity needs to be understood within larger structures of history and politics.
Chen reading in packet — (De)Hyphenated Identity: The Double Voice in The Woman Warrior
Discusses being a Chinese American.
Double voice — moving back and forth from an unknown traditional Chinese culture to an alienating American one.
De-hyphenate identity — moving from an either/or distinction to a both/and one.
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Identity & Power
Critical Perspective of Identity
Identity needs to be understood within larger structures of history and power.
Certain identities are favored more than others (privilege, social acceptance).
Not all identities are treated equally
Power Tour
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Identity & Power
In what ways does your identity have an impact on:
– your access to resources and to people?
– Your ability to influence through position or relationships?
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What is Social/Intercultural Justice?
To positively transform society by working towards the re-distribution of advantages, disadvantages, benefits, and resources to those in need or left without these forms.
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Think About . . .
If someone else were making a map of your social identity, what do you think they would include? What might they leave out?
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Social Identity Mapping
ROLES
CONTEXTS/ SETTINGS
GROUP MEMBERSHIPS
RESOURCES
GiVEN/ASCRIBED
CHOSEN/AVOWED
Social Identity Mapping
ROLES
CONTEXTS/
SETTINGS
GROUP
MEMBERSHIPS
RESOURCES
GiVEN/ASCRIBED
CHOSEN/AVOWED
Think about: o When you look at your map, what comes up for you?
o Are you surprised at all?
o Which aspects of your identity give you access to resources and to roles/people in
power? o How does your identity help you leverage differences and find common ground? o What resources are made available through your identity? o What advantages are made available through your identity?? o What disadvantages or limitations are made available through your identity??
Think about:
o When you look at your map, what comes up for you?
o Are you surprised at all?
o Which aspects of your identity give you access to resources and to roles/people in
power?
o How does your identity help you leverage differences and find common ground?
o What resources are made available through your identity?
o What advantages are made available through your identity??
o What disadvantages or limitations are made available through your identity??
Intercultural Communication and Global Understanding
5. Identity
Subsections: What is identity? Cultural identity Ethnic identity Identification The importance of context Multiple identities Identities develop in stages Societal/structural perspective of identity Communication perspectives of identity Identity matching theory Chapter 5 Assessment
What is identity?
Social psychologists define identity as a combination of personal self and group membership. Identity refers to how we see ourselves and how others see us, or the relationship between the personal and societal.
Gender is part of identity Courtesy of T U R K A I R O http://flickr.com/photos/turkair o/2553868483/
There are several aspects to identity. Psychologists further specify aspects identity related to membership and behavior. Group membership includes things like “culture,” ”gender,” “class,” as determinants of identity. This juxtaposes the collective self vs. the individual self. It distinguishes between social relationships and independence. Identities are also bound up in culture.
Cultural identity
Cultural identity can be with an ethnic group or some other social grouping one belongs to that one identifies closely with. Ethnic identity is the degree to which one feels a sense of belonging to a specific group bound together by a shared language, religious faith, history, set of traditions, values, and symbols, religion, and nationality.
Cultural identity also considers the extent to which an individual engages in behaviors associated with a group and the degree to which one actively participates in the behaviors, practices, and traditions associated with a group.
There are many different words to describe the different backgrounds or ethnic groups that people come from. Some are based on heritage, while others come from personal choice. Some labels are specific, some are broad, for example,
Mexican, French Canadian, Jewish, Hispanic, African American, Asian, Ethiopian, Korean American, Okinawan, Indian, European American.
Cultural Identity- at All Culture’s Day Courtesy of Infomatique http://flickr.com/photos/infomatique/2797716926/
Every person is born into an ethnic group, or sometimes into multiple groups, yet people differ with regard to how important their ethnicity is to them, how they feel about it, and how much it affects their behavior.
Ethnic Identity
The focus here is on ethno-cultural identification or ethnic identity. Ethnicity and race are often used interchangeably. Race has to do with the assignment of biology, whereas ethnicity has to do with a smaller subunit of
individuals. Focus on common geographical origin is broader— language, religious faith, history, shared traditions, values, and symbols, literature, settlement patterns–nationality, religious, cultural associations. Ethnic identity refers to the degree to which an individual self-identifies with a referent ethnic group (e.g. religion, geographical region, reference group).
Shishiami Courtesy of Mullenedheim CC-AT-2.0 http://flickr.com/photos/mullenkedheim/2244953508/
Ethno-cultural identity moves beyond the attitudinal level of strength of attachment to an ethnic group. It refers to the
extent to which an individual engages in behaviors associated with a group or practices a way of life associated with a particular cultural tradition. It includes the perception of belonging to or identifying with one group as distinct from other groups. Behaviors and guiding values are stressed here. It can be ethnic, cultural, or gender group.
Acculturation, relevant when cultures come into contact, refers to an individual’s adjustment or fit with the referent minority and majority group cultures.
Identification
Identification with a cultural group is based on multiple factors, including attitude, value, and behavioral components. Some researchers assert that individuals who subjectively feel attached to a cultural group validate their attitude by engaging in practices or behaviors associated with the particular group. Could also be that individuals, for whatever reason, engage in cultural practices and behaviors without a preexisting awareness of strong cultural identity. Identity may develop from exposure to and involvement with these practices. Behaviors and attitudes are manifestations of identity with an ethno- cultural group.
Jewish Culture Courtsy of Premasager http://flickr.com/photos/dhar masphere/70810794/
Identity is expressed in a large array of behavioral domains: language, dress, social relations. These expressed behaviors are ethnic role behaviors and involve participation in various behaviors that manifest ethnic cultural values, styles, customs, and traditions, and language. Behavior represents identity and identity represents behavior. There is an increase in
participating in activities associated with heritage, as the member makes an active effort.
Bolivian Group at the Parade of Cultures Courtesy of Travel Aficionado http://flickr.com/photos/travel_aficionado/25 98678398/in/set-72157605739726815/
The importance of context
A person’s identity may not fall neatly into one group all the time. Behaviors attached to different groups may differ, for example speaking an ethnic language, or shopping at store, or going to school in the U.S. as identification with U.S. Participation in mainstream behaviors may increase identification or
decrease it. People with multiple identities may select signs of the identity most appropriate to the situation. In a study of mixed heritage students, responses regarding their identity differed depending on the context, be it official, informal, or intimate. We may suppress our identity to blend into a mainstream cultural society, but when with family, bring out our ethnic identity.
We learn our ethno-cultural identity through socialization.
Identity is important to reaching people, in terms of communication, service, health care, culturally appropriate service delivery, etc. For example, providing Spanish-language advertising to a Cuban-
American who does not identify herself as a Spanish-speaking Cuban American.
Native American Woman’s Dress Courtesy of Catface3 http://flickr.com/photos/jf holloway/2605870193/
Multiple identities
Mixed ethnicity and multicultural allegiance refers to a person who identifies with several ethno-cultural groups, sometimes after prolonged exposure to a different culture. In Hawaii, for example, 40% of a university student sample self-identified with more than one ethnic group. A study using samples from Hawaii and New Mexico found that individuals of mixed ethnicity and bicultural socialization did not exhibit negative personality traits or poor adjustment. They even demonstrated less ethnocentrism and more exposure to and liking of Hispanic and Asian cultures. Studies done on acculturation of immigrant groups found that identification with the mainstream culture and one’s traditional ethno-cultural group is indicative of positive well-being. Bolivian Group at the
Parade of Cultures Courtesy of Travel Aficionado http://flickr.com/photos/travel _aficionado/2597856847/
What are the consequences if we uphold this notion of identity as behavior?
What should the criteria be? Is there a danger of defining identity as entirely based on behavior?
Identities develop in stages
Gender identities form between 1-3 years.
Ethnic & racial identities form between 7-9 years.
Do you remember when you realized you are ethnically different?
Socialization activities kick in as you mature as an adult, and they may change over time. Marriage may also affect it.
Think of the majority identity as a national “American” identity and the minority identity as that of a subculture within a nation (e.g., in terms of class, gender, ethnicity, race, sexual identity, region).
Identity Development Model
Type of Identity Development
Majority Identity Minority Identity
Stage of Identity Development
Unexamined Identity
May be aware of difference between groups
Accepts own position and attitudes/values transmitted to them
Unexamined Identity
Initial acceptance of values and attitudes of majority culture
Desire to assimilate
Stage of Identity Development
Acceptance
Internalization of group norms and rules
Strong identification with group.
Unconscious, passive acceptance or conscious, active acceptance (expresses superiority)
Conformity
•Internalization of group norms and rules given to them
Strong desire to assimilate into dominant group
May experience self-deprecation or self-hatred or resentment
Stage of Identity Development
Resistance
Major shift in attitude, blames its own dominant group and values/attitudes for being unfair and unjust to others.
May resist reconceptualizing their surroundings or actual behavioral change against its own set of rules.
Resistance/Separatism
Increased awareness that dominant group values are not beneficial for them
Frustration with the dominant group’s way of doing things
Increased solidarity with own group
Type of Identity Development
Majority Identity Minority Identity
Stage of Identity Development
Redefinition
Attempts to redefine norms/rules/social practices
Tries to re-frame own group in a more positive light
Integration
Strong sense of his or her own group identity and an appreciation of other cultural groups.
Positive outlook
Confident/secure
Wants to eliminate all injustice
Stage of Identity Development
Integration
Achieves an integrated sense of who they are
Appreciates other groups
Societal/structural perspective of identity
Societal structures and communities recognize and identify us in terms of race/ethnicity, gender, socioeconomic class, sexual orientation, among other aspects of identity.
Racial cube Courtesy of Nathangibbs CC-AT-2.0 http://flickr.com/photos/nathangibbs/27 5566956/
There is a politics of identity, or a hierarchy of criteria for identifying who is an authentic member and who is not. Such identity politics are created and reproduced in larger structures and within communities themselves (one can come from the other and vice versa—internalization of a structure).
Communication perspectives of identity
Identity is created through communication with others. It is shaped by core symbols, labels, and other elements of culture. Identity resides within social interaction, as people behave, act, doing of a cultural identity. Others must recognize such enactment, and as a real cultural member, you must recognize others’ actions as being real or not real.
Groups display reticence with regard to interaction with strangers and acceptance of obligations. A high value is placed on attaining harmony in face-to-face relations, modesty and “doing one’s own part,” taking on familial relations, observing, permissible and required silence.
Identity matching theory
An identity is only an identity when one’s avowed identity matches her or his ascribed identity. An avowed identity refers to a person’s perception of her or his self (their self-image).
Clash of Cultures Courtesy of Makz CC AT-NC-2.0 http://flickr.com/photos/makz/43134 1042/
An ascribed identity refers to others’ perceptions of you. If your ascription of one’s identity matches her or his avowed identity, it is likely that you will have a successful intercultural interaction (if you affirm the most salient identity in a conversation).
Endnotes
Weider, D. L. & Pratt, S. (1990). “On Being a Recognizable Indian Among Indians.” In D. Carbaugh (Ed.), Cultural communication and intercultural contact (pp.45-64). Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.
