Identity Reflection

 Identity Reflection

Intercultural Communication/COM 40164

Prof. Undraye Howard

November 11, 2011

My identities are listed under the social and cultural identities. I have selected racial and ethnicity identity as well as national identity as I feel for my situation they are one in the same today.  When reviewing the reading this week I was surprised to discover my affiliation with every identity listed. When you play thought into the content being covered you discover your association with these identities and how it is viewed now and how it contradicts your own beliefs now or in the past. I fell all identities are intertwined based on all of the categories as you cannot be affect by gender and not by ethnicity as we are all descendants from somewhere as well as the physical ability identity, this  may not be given much thought unless you are aware of a disability.

There are many disadvantages to having identities for each individual as it can be a seclusion factor should people have different opinions of what should be considered good or bad. I would list the advantages as being the comfort of what is considered common or accepted. The fear of being ostracized is a great motivator to stick to what is known and comfortable.

There are other factors such as the influence of identity on your school and work life. Based on history and the lack of importance placed on education by my family I have a very aggressive view of education. I was not told to pick a college or even think about what I was going to do after high school I was told that when I finish I would get a job and then work for what I wanted. As my sister and I were the first from our families to finish high school we were “done” with school and expected to start working and make our way. I feel completely discussed with this mind set and sad at the lack of guidance given by my family and the school education program at my high school.  With my children and family I am very aggressive and at age ten I am asking my son where he wants to go to college and stress the importance of good grades and life expectations.  This shift will be something that happens with the break of past identities and an application of new cultural/ educational expectations and identities.

            With work I am just as aggressive and find that this behavior is associated with the Hispanic or Latino work identity and I cannot argue with this assumption. I work with individuals of all identities and cultures and find that some of the stereo types and identities associated with some cultures or identities match my co-workers behaviors. It is disheartening for me as I try to make sure that I over compensate to maintain my work reputation.  I feel these identities are a huge influence on the way I work and my assumptions towards others, which I realize may not be a health one.

When communicating with other identities I try to mirror their tone and assimilate their formality, up to a point. I find that if I am communicating the same way with my own identities there may be some misunderstanding with my tone and mannerisms.  As the Hispanic ethnicities tend to be very animated, some other identities may not take kindly to having hands waived in their faces. I find that I need to very guarded and contained at work as I want to make sure that I am professional and consistent with my communication with my co-workers. When I am in my element and comfortable I am fun and relaxed. I find that communication is not so restrained.

These identities make us all who we are and without these labels of some sort we would not be able to categorize ourselves. I feel that with time these identities will blend and we will see less of the ethnicity and cultural as there is more mixed and interracial relationships. I am very proud of my identities and what it means to be Hispanic American. When I am dealing with individuals who are racist or ignorant I find myself feeling sorry for them as I am truly free of their prejudice and bigotry. I do think about what it means too many White Americans who are not happy with immigration and the conservation of the “White Race”. I can understand how they would want to keep their heritage and not lose it, but at what price. There is no happy ending for such a close minded way of living. It is an extremist mentality if all or nothing, which is not healthy. I feel that the only way to completely understand other identities is too be submerged in the culture and have an open mind. You may not change your mind, but you can at least have a different perspective of the choices and influences those identities may have in their lives.

Reference

Bem, D. J. (1972). "Self-perception theory". In L. Berkowitz (Ed.), Advances in Experimental Social psychology, Vol. 6, 1-62. New York: Academic Press.           

Gass, R.H., & Seiter, J.S. (2011). Persuasion, social influence and compliance gaining.  (4^th ed). Boston: Allyn & Bacon

Nakayama, T. (2010) Experiencing Intercultural Communication: An Introduction. McGraw Hill.