Discussion/Posting #4: “The Structural Framings of Your Identities (‘For and In The Name of’).”

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Identity & Intercultural Communication: Identity Mapping

COMM 174 – Module/Unit #4

Dr. Halualani

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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.

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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

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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??