What is identity?
Identity: the fact of being who or what a person or thing is; the characteristics determining this.
(http://oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/american_english/identity)
Identity can be determined in many ways. An individual may use personal characteristics such as race, gender, appearance, or sexual orientation. Someone may define his/her identity based upon group membership, for example, nationality or political affiliation. One's ethnicity and cultural origins also factor into identity.
For many people, identity is a matter of pride, self-respect, and dignity. People envision identity as a way of defining oneself and one's character. In this sense, identity may be thought of as the answer to the question "Who are you?" (Fearon, 1999).
Ways we define identity: ethnicity, gender/sex, race, age, nationality, family, profession, religion, culture, geography.
Examples of identities:
(http://oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/american_english/identity)
Identity can be determined in many ways. An individual may use personal characteristics such as race, gender, appearance, or sexual orientation. Someone may define his/her identity based upon group membership, for example, nationality or political affiliation. One's ethnicity and cultural origins also factor into identity.
For many people, identity is a matter of pride, self-respect, and dignity. People envision identity as a way of defining oneself and one's character. In this sense, identity may be thought of as the answer to the question "Who are you?" (Fearon, 1999).
Ways we define identity: ethnicity, gender/sex, race, age, nationality, family, profession, religion, culture, geography.
Examples of identities:
- "I am American"
- "I am black"
- "I am gay"
- "I am Muslim"
- "I am a daughter"
- "I am a teacher"
- "I am a Southerner"
- "I am a man"
