I often encounter three big myths about cultural identity in my work with clients. The challenge arises when we become so fixated on gaining status with our groups that we fail to notice when they aren’t serving us or resist opportunities that arise. It’s natural, even necessary, for us to seek a sense of belonging and to look for cultural groups who will accept us for who we are. Humans are social animals, which means we depend on each other for survival. For example, if you were born to a family that encouraged you to go to college and pursue a career in science, you might accept this path, join the physics club, and absorb the standards of that group into your own identity. To complicate matters further, certain situations and contexts provide an additional filter that allows unique elements of your cultural identity to emerge. As your life unfolds, you may become involved with many groups including: As you have experiences or develop skills and interests, you join and leave certain communities because you have or lack commonality with their group members. Other contributions to your cultural identity occur as you navigate your life and the social constructs (aka social constructions) around you. Important parts of your cultural identity are shaped due to your affiliation with any number of groups or cultural patterns, some of which we (as a culture) assign to you at birth, such as your: Then, through our continual exposure to the group, we begin to accept these standards as part of our cultural identity. The group unconsciously develops certain standards for what is normal and acceptable based on social cues. What makes culture complicated is that many of these defining characteristics go unspoken. No matter how large or small the group, there are beliefs, norms, values, and behaviors that emerge. What Defines and Shapes a Person’s Cultural Identity?Īnytime a group of people unites toward a common objective, a culture begins to form. Our cultural identity is important because it influences how we interpret and react to such situations, which can affect how successful we are in life. This typically happens when we find ourselves in parts of the world or among groups with different cultural norms. And while there are people who progress through life without ever thinking about their cultural identity, it is something we tend to become aware of when it’s challenged. Our cultural identity can evolve, as culture is ever-evolving and dynamic. Your cultural identity is a critical piece of your personal identity (and worldview) that develops as you absorb, interpret, and adopt (or reject) the beliefs, values, behaviors, and norms of the communities in your life. We form a cultural identity when we subconsciously interpret and incorporate signals from the world around us into our own identity so we can belong. Therefore: Whereas identity is about knowing what is acceptable and true for yourself. But what is cultural identity and why does it matter?Ĭulture, in this context, refers to the beliefs, norms, behaviors, and values that a given group of people deem acceptable. This can be especially perplexing when the situation seems benign to you, but the other person has an extremely negative or positive response. If you have ever found yourself baffled by someone’s response to a situation, you have seen the effects of cultural identity.
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