How Does A Social Process Shape An Individual's Identity

Which social processes are more important in shaping individual identity: social structures or culture and socialisation?

What is social identity? Social identity is “our understanding of who we are and of who other people are and, reciprocally, other people’s understandings of themselves and of others” (Jenkins 1996, p.38). There are many social processes that can shape an individual’s identity, whether it is social structures - such as the government, class, education and workplace-, culture –such as family, friends and sub cultures- and socialisation. Which social process shapes an individual’s identity more? My argument is that one social process does not shape an individual’s identity more than the other. Each process shapes identity greatly
Macionis and Plummer (2012, p.692) defines education as “the social institute guiding the critical learning of knowledge, job skills, cultural norms and values”. At a young age children are placed in education facilities, whether it is nursery first then primary or straight into primary. Whilst in primary children are taught to interact with others, they are taught basic knowledge and literacy as well as right from wrong. As children progress through education they are taught a more in depth approach to understanding the world around them and how it works and how they fit in. In secondary education, individuals may change their appearance or personality to fit into certain social groups or subcultures. This altering may change throughout their secondary schooling experience as the world around them changes. After completing secondary education, some individuals may progress into tertiary education. Whilst in tertiary education, individuals will study a course that will turn into a career for them. Education is a major influence in shaping an individual’s identity as it is the starting block for knowledge, friends, subcultures and