Monday, February 25, 2013

Let Me Identify

On page 102 of Sex and Gender
Identity: The quality or condition of being the same in substance, composition, nature, properties, or in particular qualities under consideration; absolute or essential sameness; oneness.

Identity. Who are you? Who am I? We are constantly asking and being asked these questions.  It is what we are told to find as soon as we hit middle school. What is your own identity? How will you define yourself? How will other people define you? It all is part of your identity, and your identity can be a powerful thing. It is also a very important thing.
You are who you hang out with. The people that surround you influence you to do certain things and to look a certain way because the more you hang out with a group, the more you all become like each other. Also, if someone does not know you personally, you will be categorized with the people that you hang out with. Your identity could then become part of the jocks, or a snob, or a geek.
You are what you wear. People are always saying that what you wear can say a lot about you. If you wear a suit and tie, you must care a lot about your appearance and are probably very business-like. If you wear a cheerleading uniform, you are most likely a cheerleader.
Therefore, there are a lot of factors that can impact your identity. But sometimes you must ask yourself, is what I want my identity to be more important than how others identify me? A lot of teenagers and people in their early twenties are constantly seeking who they are. Some may never figure it out and change periodically throughout their life, while others may decide early on and stick to it. Identity is what helps us make our decisions because morals and beliefs contribute to our identity, and they are also what we base particular decisions off of.
In my opinion, girls struggle finding their identity more than boys do. In my study, I am researching how Disney uses princesses to influence young girls. Disney portrays women as basically the same thing in every movie: beautiful, hour glass shape, perfect complexion, kind, and usually can sing. As young girls grow up, this is what they think they are supposed to be like because this is what they have grown up seeing women as. Therefore, when they realize they are not like the Disney princesses and perfect in every way, they question if they are good enough and they do everything they can to become prettier or nicer. The young girls need to realize that if we were all the same and had the same identity, life would be boring. We each have our own interests, looks, and personality. That is what defines us, not the people around us or people from movies.
 

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