Ethnicity, race and gender - Essay Example

Ethni race and gender Narratives of Distinction This narrative conveys how childrenwho suffer from autism have often been negatively represented in the professional literature and the popular media. It comprises of the lived contexts in which kids with autism spectrum disorders actively engage with members of their families in co-constructed narratives of events in their personal life. , and are apprenticed into culturally consonant genres of life narratives. It conveys how children who are diagnosed with high functioning autism are mistreated and are subjects to poor development of social and personal identity.

Female Circumcision This article focuses on the gender problems that female beings face in terms of female circumcision. It shows how cultural practices in underdeveloped countries affect the social and personal identities on women. It explains the health and social effects that this practice has on an individual. It mainly focuses on Sudan, which is one of the underdeveloped countries. Seeking to escape the suffering of existence This is piece by chikako Ozawa Silva who conveys her phenomenological views and facts on issues of illnesses and health.

In this piece, she has integrated Asian and Western perspectives on illness, health, medicine and practices. Ethnicity can be described as a collection of people who are more than just a collective group, but a collection consciously related by common shared experience or origins. Incorporated into the ethnicity of a group is a distinct language, political institutions and religious beliefs which are passed down generations. Gender has extensive effects within some social settings for an individual.

Whereas ‘sex’ is the biological dissimilarity between female and male, gender is the social structure and the cultural task that society imposes upon the individual. An individual’s role, depending on their gender and race and within their ethnic and cultural setting assists to establish their social and personal identity and so, each bare inherent common trait (www.writework.com). Social Identity is the appreciating and understanding of the person we are, and equally, the understanding of other people of whom they are.

Identity is the blend of how we experience ourselves and others experience us. It is a sense of differentiating and identifying with certain groups of people. We have multiple identities and roles within a society that is made up of various components such as sex, intelligence, ethnicity and class. The most vital thing is the significance the social world provides to these attributes, which we then internalize as parts of personal identity. The many factors that influence identities include gender, race and ethnicity.

Ethnic minority individuals are reminded again and again that the social identities of their ethnic groups, race and gender are inferior. In a community with a majority of people belonging to a particular religion, another individual of a different religion will feel inferior, and this will influence his or her individual personal and social identity. The personal and social identities that are brought about by one religion is usually different from those of other religions. One religion might consider members of another religion misled, and people always believe that their religion is the best.

When it comes to gender, it is the personal and social identity of the female sex that is negatively influenced. Traditionally, it was believed that the place for women was at home and in the kitchen. This is still practiced in other societies to date. Women are considered as being inferior and minor to men. This negatively influences the personal identity that a girl would have for her self, and even influence the social identity that she may have in the society. The social identity of an individual focuses on comparisons persons make between their own ethnic minority group and a dominant group.

Thus, conversations that feature negative comparisons with other groups tends to influence the social identity of ethnic minority, encouraging an attitude of growing dissatisfaction with one's social identity. The perspectives of Ethnic minority are frequently overlooked. For instance, how identity and race are represented socially influences the racial, social and personal identities of African Americans. Social identity has positive effects on whites in the form of privilege while this is not essentially the case for the blacks who are the ethnic minorities (Billingsley 1970).

Personality is the main factor in defining personality uniqueness and shaping the course of an individual through life. Culture is defined as the way of life. It is the assumptions about the way things are, and how life is. Forming a personality consists mainly of the elements of a culture. Numerous aspects of personality vary across various cultural groups. Personal identity is totally tied to cultural identity thus; personality cannot be separated from Culture. Culture mediates every thought in a person.

We are the carriers of cultural heritage, which forms a, vital element of personal identity. It is extremely difficult to alter the understanding of culture but impossible to separate culture from personal identity. The manner in which we judge another individual is a product of how well the person meets the cultural values we have learned from teachers, parents, and the significant others around us (sangamkoblog.blogspot.com). An individual who is born to a culture that does things that are considered extreme by other cultures—human sacrifice, polygamy --will have different personality values from an individual who was not exposed to such things (Cummins 1996).

For instance, a culture that upholds athleticism and aggression will shape the personalities of talented athletes to be self-centered, entitled, and confident. Work cited "The concept of social identity, social class, gender and ethnicity.” Here Web. 14 Dec. 2012. http://www.writework.com/essay/concept-social-identity-social-class-gender-and- ethnicity. Billingsley, A. (1970). Black families and white social science. Journal of Social Issues, 26, 127- 142. Cummins, J. (1996) Negotiating Identities: Education for empowerment in a Diverse Society.

Ontario :C.A.B.E Silpakar, Sangam, and Elipha Pradhananga. "Expressions!!!!: Role of Culture in forming Personality." Expressions!!!!. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Dec. 2012. http://sangamkoblog.blogspot.com/2009/05/role-of-culture-in-forming-personality.html.