Social Identity Assignment
Social Identity Assignment:
Name:
Institution:
QUESTION 1
Part 1
One of the most easily noticeable characteristic of social identity is age. It is always very easy to recognize our age when in our social groups. Age is one of the characteristics of our social group because it is common interests and goals that brings us together. We share a lot of things in common with my friends including our schooling. Age hugely determines our interests. As a result, I share common interests with my friends because of our similar ages. Our perspectives of life, challenges and experiences are similar because members of our social group are agemates. In addition, our conversations are purely on topics mostly affecting our generation. Therefore in these social groups, our ages became easily recognizable.
Part 2
I always fail to notice my socioeconomic class especially while in class. This is because our interaction in class depends on our courses and abilities. During class activities, we interact freely without any socioeconomic prejudices. Our class members judge each other solely based on the social groups in class and the capabilities of each student. The social and economic class is hardly noticed while doing class activities. Many students have groups within our class, formed according to the courses of each student. We fail to notice the socioeconomic class of students because the abilities of students do not depend on their economic and social class.
Part 3
The ethnicity of a person has the greatest influence on one’s self being. This is because many people in our country still judge others based on their ethnicity and race. For instance due to racism, many people are treated badly. One example is of African-American males suspected to be gangsters even if one is innocent. Asian- Americans are victims of the stereotype of being terrorists even if they are not guilty.Ethnicity hugely influences relationship with others. For instance, I lost some of my hildhood friends solely due to difference in our ethnicities.
PAGE 2
Social functions reveal different characteristics of a person’s social identity. This is because most social occasions involve people of nearly the same social identity. One of the social functions where my social identity becomes apparent is during end year parties. The end year parties are always for family members and other close relatives only. In this case, my ethnicity becomes obvious as my family members are of the same ethnicity. My parents always allow me to invite few friends to the party. However, my close friends are of the same race as me. As a result, our family end year parties consist of members of our race only. In this case, my ethnicity becomes obviously evident.
However, in funerals it is difficult to become aware of a person’s social identity. In most funerals, people unite in grief of the deceased irrespective of their social identities. Funerals may unite people of different races, ages, religions, social and economic status, gender and other characteristics of social identity. In such painful conditions, individuals console and support the bereaved family. It is foolish to discriminate according to social identities in such sorrowful cases.
It is also difficult to recognize social identities in tragic emergencies and disaster situations. For instance natural calamities such as floods, earthquakes and hurricanes bring people of different social identities together. This is because calamities affect humans equally irrespective of social identity. In such calamities, it is next to impossible to recognize one’s social identity since natural tragedies affect everyone equally. The nation becomes united to solve these natural disasters irrespective of social class and identity.
