The Notion of Identity and Social Roles - Essay Example

What makes man a being of worth is what he possesses for himself. It may be his ingenuity; it could be his innate skills, his cunning. His intellect is what sets him apart from other species. However, when man sets himself at a distance from another of his kin, a different approach is revealed. To this extent, a man’s worth is measured not only by his ingenuity, thus by his identity. In the light of this, many have come to search for this measure. Across literature and academic studies, the notion of an identity is meticulously argued in a number of ways, each of which trying to explain it in a different domain. Nevertheless, links to each definition and designation could not be neglected. There exists a definition of the term identity, an ample explanation that connects it all. Nonetheless, a question remains that of the nature of the treatment of the term. What does an identity signify? Identity spans across the different fields of inquiry, making its way through varied interpretations as the mere representation of a self. The definition of the term identity differs according to who is using it and why they are using it. The concept is established, and many fields draw upon this notion of identity as a root cause of conflict. Identities are constructed based on various traits and experiences. Many of those characteristics are open to different interpretations (Kriesberg). In this instance, it would be better to dig deeper into the term through the concept of identity frames. The concept of identity frames illustrates the various ways in which people view themselves in the context of specific conflicts (Gardner). This is notable for this consents us to the analysis of how an individual’s identity and group affiliation influence the manner they outlook and respond to conflict. Let us consider Cunningham’s To Watch the Faces of the Poor. His correspondence on Life’s treatment of the African-Americans demonstrates an identity frame, which is racial and cultural in nature. The racist stereotyping is demeaning and pernicious (Cunningham). Across the globe, racial inequity is widespread and skin color sets about an issue of social status. In the United States, the identity of being colored poses a concern of inferiority. At this point, color becomes a marker of identity. Moreover, in most cases, from this mark of an identity sprouts conflict. Charles Cunningham relays such situations in his article, pertaining to the status of the African-Americans in the American society. It was a nearly atrocious treatment of this group of people, “they weren’t even portrayed as typically or fully human...” The discrimination is worsened as the economic capacity of these people is put into another identity marker. Their poverty is seen as rooted in them, “there’s no ideological contradiction in black poverty.” “Negroes” came to be an economic marker of identity as well, as one survey of Roosevelt’s popularity reveals. This case in point, the term identity is redefined. The notion of identity as a mere representation of a self is not a strong definition at all. The magazine’s dealing with the poor whites could be interpreted in these same identity frames, which are economic in nature and of a social class category. In this case, a conclusion could be held that there is a variety of markers that does not hold for a certain group identity. Inside the white group themselves exists another pointer that sets economic capability as an identity marker. The white trash myth is not an appropriate label; the discrimination happened, they were called “unworthy,” and not under any circumstances such situations be branded as a myth. There exists a crisis in which men are ridiculed because of an imposed meaning on part of their identity. Thus, an identity shared by a group of people does not necessarily generate peaceful coexistence among its members. There subsists in-between identity markers and again, this makes the definition of identity much clearer than sheer self-representation. Such frames are also visible in Delph-Janiurek’s Sounding Gender(ed). He argued that the notions of appropriate “feminine” and “masculine” voices also intersect with the notions of social class. In this instance, it may be inferred that a certain smart, powerful voice is that of a socially acknowledged man. On the other hand, a soft yet articulate voice projection would definitely be recognized as that of an elite woman. Another point presented is that the remarkable differences in the speaking pattern of people are ascribed to their geographical identity. In this illustration, yet again, the term identity serves as a marker not only for an individual nevertheless as well as for that for a group identity. Situations in this article, once more, are based on economic and racial frames, as well as social status. Social roles take part in the issue as another marker. Delph-Janiurek lets us see why social class is an important aspect of our identity. Gender could be the simplest identity indicator; nevertheless, its implication creates space for a social classification scheme. The key point here is that the ability speakers have to gesture with their vocal tracks and the lack of uniform, universal differences between the voices of women and men, together suggest that voices themselves are stylized and performed to a far greater degree than what is assumed (Delph-Janiurek). A gendered voice, i.e. feminine or masculine in quality, is consequently vital to be distinguished as a social being. Therefore, a voice that projects no indicators of gender would not be notably human. It is difficult to imagine how all these markers work in a certain environment. However, in Amit Talai’s The Waltz of Sociability, we can clearly see the implication of identities. A study was conducted in Royal Haven, a high school in Quebec. The school was in a working class district, and population wise, the school was ethnically diverse. Amit-Talai’s article was particularly concerned with social changes, the development of friendship among students from different backgrounds. From experiences, we know that friendship springs forth between people with similarities, common interests, and same perspectives. Then how, in the situation of Royal Haven students, be strong friendship possible? How will they see each other’s worth as identity issues confront them? Friendship is, primarily, a different kind of social role. Attachment builds an emotional identity, and thus, a change in geography is something in poignant for these students. They struggle in this new environment with a new group of individuals surrounding them. However, looking keenly into the background of these students, such identity markers are common to some of them. Geographical background was something they do not have in common. Yet, economic markers are, much or less, common to these students, as studies show that the household income of their families are quite low. Because of this, many of them hold part-time jobs with full-time school. This means there is less time to be spent with other students after school. Indeed, Amit-Talai’s assumption that liberal supply of time will not explain friendship among these Havaners is essentially true. Thus, this situation leaves the school hours as the only time left for the socialization. But then, adult supervision inside the school property is strictly implemented. Socialization is a slow in this case. Nevertheless, as time passes by with these students sharing these new experiences with each other, they began to see common things in each other. They start to see things in the same perspective, for instance, they hate the strict school rules, or they do not like their parents’ rules on going out. Their identity markers change, and thus, they change. This shows that identity is not something permanent; it changes as social roles change. With all these markers elucidated, perhaps, the term could now be clearly defined. Although self-identity may seem to coincide with a particular human being, identities are actually much wider than that. Each persons self-conception is a unique combination of different identifications; some may be as straightforward as gender, being a man or a woman, others may be as complicated to realize as economic stability or cultural views. Identities are also collective; they extend due to changes that we encounter in our lives. The primacy importance of an identity is another quality that affects its contribution to the persistence of a conflict. Persons and groups have multiple identities, but the identities are not all equally significant to them. With all of these, there is one thing certain. Understanding that each of us is different is our primary step to resolving identity issues. Resources Cunningham, Charles. ‘“To Watch the Faces of the Poor”: Life Magazine and the Mythology of Rural Poverty in the Great Depression.’ (Please insert the title of the book here). (Place of publication: Publisher, year of Publication). 200-209. Delph-Janiurek, Tom. “Sounding Gender(ed): Vocal Performances in English University Teaching Spaces.” (Please insert the title of the book here). (Place of publication: Publisher, year of Publication). 258-277. Amit-Talai, Vered. “The Waltz of Sociability: Intimacy, Dislocation, and Friendship in a Quebec High School.” (Please insert the title of the book here). (Place of publication: Publisher, year of Publication). 233-251. Kriesberg, Louis. "Identity Issues." Beyond Intractability. Eds. Guy Burgess and Heidi Burgess. Conflict Research Consortium, University of Colorado, Boulder. Posted: July 2003 . Smith, Anthony. National Identity. Reno: University of Nevada Press, 1991 Northrup, Terrell A. "The Dynamic of Identity in Personal and Social Conflict," in Intractable Conflicts and Their Transformation. Ed. by L. Kriesberg, T.A. Northrup, and S.J. Thorson. Syracuse: Syracuse University Press, 1989. Gardner, Robert. "Identity Frames." Beyond Intractability. Eds. Guy Burgess and Heidi Burgess. Conflict Research Consortium, University of Colorado, Boulder. Posted: June 2003 . Newitz, Analee. "White savagery and Humiliation: or A New Racial Consciousness in the Media." in White Trash: Race and Class in America. Ed. by Annalee Newitz and Matt Wray. New York and London: Routledge, 1997. Brunn, Stanley D., and James O. Wheeler. "Spatial Dimensions of Poverty in the United States." Geografiska Annaler 53, no. 1, 1971. Evans, Gary W., and Kimberly English. "The Environment of Poverty: Multiple Stressors Exposure, Psychophysiological Stress and Socioemotional Adjustment." Child Development 73, no. 4, 2002. Read More