Identity and Belonging Essay - 621 Words

Our perception of our identity is constantly changing, the groups we belong to, the people we talk to and the way we connect with others help to form our identity. There is one thing we all have in common despite our individual identities, is the need to belong. There’s no obligation to belong to only one group, you can belong to many. An individual can belong to many groups, which will then create multiple identities; hence our understanding of identity is never constant. Belonging to a loving family, group of caring friends that help us to develop our own sense of self. However, belonging can have a negative side. For example our families might have an expectation of us to do something that might alter our ambitions and interfere with†¦show more content†¦We all want to stand out of the crowd and be something special, but not all of us have the potential. However, it doesn’t necessarily have to be about education, parents can be very protective over us and ho ld us back from socializing with friends, especially from the opposite gender, which makes it harder for us teenagers to belong to a group. Media has a major influence in shaping our identity. It brain washes us by telling us what to do and because we are constantly surrounded by it, we allow it to create stereotypes, and change the way we act and think. Popular TV shows such as the Simpsons are constantly making us use and believe stereotypes. Mainstream media create images of perfect girls on magazines, to brainwash young girls into believing that they have to be as thin and perfect, as the ‘Photoshoped’ images of the girls in magazines to be accepted and to fit in groups and be happy and loved. The pressure to fit in and to be perfect leaves a psychological effect on young girls which influences and changes their original identity. Half of our identities today are completely based on what we see in the media. Although our names, cultures and religions determine otherwise, Mainstream media determines our dress, behaviour, hobbies and interests. What we see in magazines and on television dictate the way we run ourShow MoreRelatedIdentity and Belonging758 Words   |  4 Pagesbelong is a confusing and unfortunate case, where one can find themselves lost and frustrated, as they do not have a safe zone. Through the use of text and film, it can be explored that this concept if difference hinders one from feeling a sense of belonging. Whether it be a persons inability to adapt or their lack of confidence. As we progress through life we discover that our differences make it harder for us to belong. As shown in ‘growing up in australia’, tormenting young adolescents is somethingRead MoreNotes for Identity and Belonging1774 Words   |  8 PagesDancing lessons – Cindy Pan Encourages Cindy’s ambitions EXTENDED ASIAN FAMILY INFLUENCES - Helps develop a child’s sense of self Quarrel – Ken Chan Dispite the dysfunction and chaos, he felt that ‘loneliness was never a problem’ THE LANGUAGE OF BELONGING: LEARNING ENGLISH AND LEARNING ‘AUSTRALIAN’ IDEAS EXPANDING IDEAS STORY QUOTE/EXPLANATION OUTSIDE EXAMPLES THE FRUSTRATION OF COMMUNICATION BARRIERS - Without being understood, you remain in the shadows of your adopted country, unable to belongRead MoreIdentity and Belonging Essay1111 Words   |  5 PagesIDENTITY AND BELONGING ‘Knowing where you belong is essential to our sense of identity’ The quest for personal discovery is a journey which every individual must undergo. The development of a sense of self is one of the greatest achievements one can derive from life. Identity is made up of a constellation of characteristics, none more essential than the sense of belonging we feel with others. Humans by nature are social creatures and as such, we all have an instinctual desire for acceptanceRead MoreIdentity Nd Belonging Essay1987 Words   |  8 PagesOur sense of identity can never be constant Identity and belonging are inter-related; they go like peas in a pod. The groups we choose to belong to and the ways we connect with others help to form our own identity. Together, these issues go to the heart of who we are and how we present ourselves to the world. One human quality that we all share, despite our individual identities, is the need to belong. It is a paradox that we long to be free, to be who we truly are and yet we yearn to belong toRead MoreCultural Identity Is The Belonging Of An Individual1958 Words   |  8 PagesCultural identity is the belonging of an individual to a group. According to the iceberg model of culture, this group typically shares the same behaviors, beliefs, and values and thought patterns. As someone whose response to the question â€Å"where are you from?† sounds more like strained sounds than actual words, I have struggled tremendously with determining the cultural identities that construct my identity. I often feel more like a cultura l chameleon than an individual possessing cultural identitiesRead MoreCultural Identity, I Believe, Is A Sense Of Belonging Or1078 Words   |  5 PagesCultural identity, I believe, is a sense of belonging or connection to a social group. It is a self-perception influenced through nationality, race, ethnicity, and religious affiliation – just to name a few. Highly similar to the description provided in the textbook, in which people may identify â€Å"with ethnic, religious, or national identity becoming increasingly dynamic and a matter of individual choice,† (Shiraev Levy, 2017, p.8) captivating the combination of different backgrounds, ideas, andRead MoreIdentity and Belonging in Shanghai Girls and Silver like Dust1263 Words   |  6 Pagesâ€Å"As we journey through life, identity and belonging must be consistently renegotiated.† Each person’s identity goes through a process of stages in order to be fully developed and be a whole identity. Some peop le needs more time than others to attain a full, whole identity. There are many factors which play a role in sharpens people’s identity such as the environment that the people love in and the experiences that they went through. Undoubtedly, immigrants, especially those form two different culturesRead MoreBelonging Involves Conforming and a Loss of Identity - Expository Essay1087 Words   |  5 Pagesfoundation of belonging is often associated with the loss of a person’s individuality. Indeed, as the construction of one’s identity is highly intricate and ever – changing, several authorities often considers its development to be associated with our relationships. From this, it can be shown that belonging can be associated with the degradation of one’s identity. Such impact can be explained through the reality that in order to belong, we must share similar characteristics or identity with that groupRead MoreThe Crucible; Belonging and Identity. Pans Labyrinth and the Company of Wolves as Related Texts1999 Words   |  8 PagesCrucible Discussion Notes. One’s belonging will always be entrenched in the ‘belonging’ established by another group; regardless of whether or not you wish to be a part of such a group. That is to say, even if it is your aim to find your sense of belonging totally outside of another group, the course of action required to achieve this belonging through not belonging will be influenced by the sense of belonging established by the group; in your wish to contrast that belonging. A less convoluted illustrationRead MoreIt Is Hard to Possess a Sense of Belonging When We Are Unsure of Our Own Identity.673 Words   |  3 PagesThe journey in finding our identity and belonging can often be a struggle, since we ask ourselves, ‘who am I’ vs. whom do others want me to be? And where do I belong? This point in our live is subjective, because we want to feel accepted in society we deny ourselves of what we really are. It’s hard to have a sense of belonging when we ourselves are unsure of our own identity. There comes a time where our opinions and beliefs are differentiated from those around us, during this time some people may