Identity
identity
‘I am free to choose my own identity’.
As a stand-alone statement “I am free to choose my own identity” presented me with a number of problems. Prior to the commencement of this module and without any previous knowledge of sociological theory I would have been inclined to agree without reservation that I am in fact free to choose my own identity. I would have considered myself to be individual, if not unique? The responsibility for who and what I am today not being a result of ‘a process of socialisation’ but the choices and decisions I have made during my life. Unfortunately this understanding is flawed to say the least. It is naïve and idealistic. Identity crosses many different pathways in our lives as individuals, but there is a ‘bigger picture’ to be considered. When we refer to identity as an individual there are so many other factors and issues that must be throw into the ‘melting pot’. To name but a few – ‘individual, cultural, ethnic, sexuality and gender all have varying degrees of impact on who we are what we aspire to be and what we have become’- Wikipedia (2006). Consideration must also be given to the homogenous nature of society and how the values and norms of our ‘being’ are formulated. Personal identity or ‘self’ is and can be influenced by the passing of time. It is not just a simple matter of how we see ourselves as individuals in society but more importantly how other members of society see and perceive us. Mead (1934) states - to distinguish between yourself and others you must be able to recognise yourself as a distinct entity. Identity has also been described as – “a sense of self that develops as a child differentiates from parents and family and takes a place in society” (Jary and Jary 1991)
Freedom of choice also presents the potential for disagreement and debate. Freedom is defined in the Elmer Social Science Dictionary (2006) as:-
‘A complex philosophical concept referring to an individual or group 's
‘I am free to choose my own identity’.
As a stand-alone statement “I am free to choose my own identity” presented me with a number of problems. Prior to the commencement of this module and without any previous knowledge of sociological theory I would have been inclined to agree without reservation that I am in fact free to choose my own identity. I would have considered myself to be individual, if not unique? The responsibility for who and what I am today not being a result of ‘a process of socialisation’ but the choices and decisions I have made during my life. Unfortunately this understanding is flawed to say the least. It is naïve and idealistic. Identity crosses many different pathways in our lives as individuals, but there is a ‘bigger picture’ to be considered. When we refer to identity as an individual there are so many other factors and issues that must be throw into the ‘melting pot’. To name but a few – ‘individual, cultural, ethnic, sexuality and gender all have varying degrees of impact on who we are what we aspire to be and what we have become’- Wikipedia (2006). Consideration must also be given to the homogenous nature of society and how the values and norms of our ‘being’ are formulated. Personal identity or ‘self’ is and can be influenced by the passing of time. It is not just a simple matter of how we see ourselves as individuals in society but more importantly how other members of society see and perceive us. Mead (1934) states - to distinguish between yourself and others you must be able to recognise yourself as a distinct entity. Identity has also been described as – “a sense of self that develops as a child differentiates from parents and family and takes a place in society” (Jary and Jary 1991)
Freedom of choice also presents the potential for disagreement and debate. Freedom is defined in the Elmer Social Science Dictionary (2006) as:-
‘A complex philosophical concept referring to an individual or group 's
References: Goffman, E. (1969) The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life. Harmondsworth Penguin. London. Haralambos, M & Holborn, M. (2000) Sociology Themes and Perspectives Fifth Edition. Harper Collins Publishers Limited. London. Macionis, J & Plummer, K (2002). Sociology A Global Introduction – Second Edition. Pearson Education Limited. London Mead, G.H Mills, C.W. (1970) The Sociological Information. Oxford University Press. USA. Newman, D. (2006) Sociology Exploring the Architecture of Everyday Life – Sixth Edition. Sage Publications Limited. USA. Parsons, T. (1937) The Structure of Social Action. Routledge and Keegan Paul Limited. London. Parsons, T. (1951) The Social Action System. Routledge and Keegan Paul Ltd. London. Charles Horton Cooley. "Heredity or Environment," Journal of Applied Sociology 10, (1926): pp 303-307. http://links.jstor.org/ Rieker Steven