Welcome to the Study of Identity!
In this chapter, we are going to explore one of the most exciting questions in Sociology: "Who am I?"
Identity isn't just about your name or what you look like. It’s about how you see yourself and how the world sees you. Understanding identity is like holding up a mirror to society. By the end of these notes, you’ll understand how your identity is "built" by the world around you and why it’s constantly changing. Don’t worry if some of the terms feel new—we’ll break them down step-by-step!
1. What exactly is Identity?
In Sociology, identity is the sense of self. It is how individuals perceive themselves and how they are perceived by others. It’s like a social passport—it tells people who you are and where you "fit" in the social world.
Two sides of the same coin:
1. Personal Identity: This is your internal sense of self. It includes your unique traits, like being "funny," "kind," or "a music lover."
2. Social Identity: This is how society labels you based on the groups you belong to. For example, being a "student," "British," or "female."
Quick Review Box:
Identity is socially constructed. This means it isn't just something we are born with; it is created through our interactions with other people and the society we live in.
How is identity created?
Identity is created through socialisation. Think back to the agencies of socialisation we studied earlier. These "teachers" of society help shape who we are:
• The Family: Your first sense of identity often comes from your parents (e.g., learning your gender or your religion).
• Peer Groups: Your friends influence your style, the music you like, and your subculture.
• Education: Schools teach you to be an "achiever" or a "worker."
• Media: TV and social media provide role models that we might try to copy.
Key Takeaway: Identity is a mix of how we see ourselves and how the agencies of socialisation (like family and media) "label" us.
2. The "Big Seven": Aspects of Identity
The syllabus highlights seven specific cultural characteristics that shape our identity. You can remember them with this mnemonic: Great Students Study Every Night About Diversity.
1. Gender: This is the social expectation of how "men" and "women" should act. Example: Girls might be socialised to be "nurturing," while boys are taught to be "tough."
2. Social Class: This is based on your economic position (e.g., Working Class, Middle Class). It affects your hobbies, the way you speak, and your future goals.
3. Sexuality: This refers to who people are physically and emotionally attracted to. It is an increasingly important part of how people define themselves today.
4. Ethnicity: This is your cultural heritage, including your language, religion, and traditions. Example: Identifying as Irish-Traveller or British-Indian.
5. Nationality: This is the sense of belonging to a specific country or nation-state. Example: Feeling "proudly Scottish" and supporting the national sports team.
6. Age: Our identity changes as we get older. A "teenager" has a very different social identity compared to an "elderly person."
7. Disability: For many, having a physical or mental impairment is a core part of their identity, especially in terms of how society treats them (the social model of disability).
Common Mistake to Avoid: Don't confuse ethnicity with nationality. Ethnicity is about culture and ancestry; Nationality is about the country you belong to legally and emotionally.
Key Takeaway: These seven factors act like "building blocks." Everyone has a different mix of these blocks that makes up their total identity.
3. Intersectionality: When Identities Overlap
We don't just have one identity at a time. We are many things at once! This is called intersectionality.
Imagine a road junction where different paths meet. A person isn't just "a woman"—she might be a working-class, British, Asian woman. All these parts of her identity "intersect" and change how she experiences the world.
Relative Importance:
Some parts of our identity might feel more important than others depending on where we are. This is called situational identity.
Example: Your "Nationality" might feel very important when you are on holiday abroad, but your "Age" might feel more important when you are at a youth club.
Did you know?
Sociologists argue that some identities are master statuses. This is an identity that "overrides" all others in the eyes of society. For example, if someone has a visible disability, people might see that before they see the person’s gender or job.
Key Takeaway: Our identities are complex and "layered." Which part of our identity is most important can change depending on the situation.
4. Hybrid Identities: Mixing it Up!
In a globalised world, identities are becoming "blended." A hybrid identity is a mixture of two or more influences.
Think of it like a fusion restaurant—just as you can have "Tex-Mex" food (Texas + Mexico), people can have "fusion" identities.
Example: "Brasian" identity (British + Asian) is a famous term used by sociologists to describe young people who grow up with traditional Asian values at home but British pop culture with their friends.
Encouraging Note: Don't worry if this seems tricky! Just remember that "Hybrid" means "Mixed." It usually happens because of migration and the internet (globalisation).
Key Takeaway: Hybrid identities show that culture is not "fixed." People can pick and choose elements from different cultures to create something new.
5. Changing Identities
Is your identity set in stone? Sociologists say No!
In the past (Traditional Society), your identity was often decided for you. If your dad was a coal miner, you would likely be a coal miner. Your identity was ascribed (given to you).
Today (Postmodern Society), identity is more achieved and fluid. We have more choice.
• We can change our style, our jobs, and even our gender identity.
• Consumer culture means we "buy" our identity through the clothes we wear and the tech we use.
Quick Review Box:
Traditional Identity: Fixed, stable, based on family and work.
Modern/Postmodern Identity: Fluid, changing, based on choice and what we buy (consumption).
Key Takeaway: Identity is a lifelong project. It isn't something you "have," it's something you "do" and "change" throughout your life.
Summary Checklist
To master this chapter, make sure you can:
• Define identity and explain how it’s socially constructed.
• Name and explain the "Big Seven" aspects of identity.
• Explain intersectionality (how identities overlap).
• Provide an example of a hybrid identity.
• Discuss why identity is changing in the modern world.