Ethnic identites Essay Ethnic Identity Ethnic Identity Essay

1. Ethnic identites Essay
In what ways are Ethnic identities important in contemporary Britain, and to whom, and why? The
concept of ethnic identity calls for definition. The adjective "ethnic" relates to the fact of belonging
to a certain human group, as defined by anthropological and cultural features. With such a wide
meaning, the word and its derivative "ethnicity" raise issues as to their definition: there is no
universally agreed definition on the term ethnicity. "Ethnicity refers to a group or community that is
assumed to share common cultural practices and history. Religion, language and territory are all
included in the term ethnicity" (Kath Woodward, 2004, p 124). As such, the concept is rather recent,
as it appeared in sociological studies late in the...show more content...
This therefore is labelling the minorities in terms of being different compared to the majority. As a
result of this labelling the ethnic minorities, grasp on to their ethnic identities. "When we came
here we swore we were English because Guyana was British Guiana... when you come here, you
discovered it's a different thing. If you're English, you have to be white" this point of view that you
have to be white to be seen as British is one that is largely shared within the ethnic minority groups
especially within the first generation of immigrates to Britain and this is why many first generation
families stress the view that the second generation should hold on to their ethnic identity. Tariq
Modood claims that "New cultural practises, especially to do with family.... have become a feature
of British landscape; skin colour, identities, place of origin...counties' to shape the personal lives and
relationships of even British Born individual" ( Modood 1997). To measure the importance of the
concept of ethnic identities in Britain today, it is interesting to see how the concept is used in
everyday language. For most British people, ethnic identity has a rather restricted scope: ("In Britain
ethnic is qualified more with minority not majority" (Christopher Karner, 2007.) Indeed, the white
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2. Ethnic Identity
Conform or Oppose?
The beauty of society is not two persons are identical, we are all diverse and we need to celebrate
differences. Race and ethnicity shape the way we see ourselves and are integral to creating
outlooks on society. Ethnicity has a considerable effect on our identity and makes us who we are,
and we need to learn to embrace it. The topic of embracing ethnic identity is very well defined by
Jaswinder Bolina in, "Writing Like a White Guy" and by Gloria Anzaldua in "How to Tame a Wild
Tongue." Even though many immigrate to America one should not forget where they come from,
being true to oneself and acknowledging that ethnicity plays an important role for many people in
defining their cultural background and race. Cultural identity is a chance to be part of something
bigger than yourself. You are born into a culture and are a living link to your heritage. Cultural
identity is what makes a person unique, it is a mix of different cultures that one is a part of and
using them to define yourself. Bolina chooses to be true to his ethnic identity when asked, "'You're
so Americanized, what nationality are you?" She doesn't pick up on the oxymoron in her question.
She doesn't hear the hint of tiredness in my reply. "I was born and raised in Chicago, but my
parents are from northern India'" (503). Bolina chooses to not run away from his true self but rather
embrace his differences. Under similar circumstances, some may not have done the same. Being
brave enough
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3. Ethnic Identity Essay
Media is a powerful tool for socialization and entertainment that can either diminish or boost an
individual's self–perception later affecting their overall identity. It can be argued however, that the
extent of that affect/influence is largely dependent on the strength of the individual's identity before
being exposed to the media. Psychologist Beverly Tatum defines identity as a "complex concept
shaped by individual characteristics, family dynamics, historical factors, and social and political
contexts" in order to define ones self (Tatum, 1997). When discussing the complexity of identity,
Tatum addresses the different aspects to forming identity with questions such as "who am I?" "Who
do my parents say I am?" "What do I learn form the media about myself?" (Tatum, 1997). With the
high rate of media consumption among children and easier access through technology, children look
to pop culture for cues and sense of identity. As a black woman/girl, being from two historically
marginalized groups, ethnic identity is crucial when looking at the representations of black women
in the media. Ethnic Identity is the extent to which someone identifies with a particular ethnic group;
it is a "group based identity formed and developed through a variety of socialization processes,
including both personal experiences and mediated experiences"(Fujioka, 2005). To have an ethnic
identity is to relate to a culture, ethnicity, and custom and take pride in it, by knowing its truth and
worth.
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