Abstract This paper focuses on language as it defines culturalidentity. The paper examines the lives of individuals that have experienced a cultural separation from society, discovering their personal and culturalidentities through language. The paper then further discusses how school age children develop their attitudes about their lives and the world through the acceptance by society of their cultures and their languages of origin.
From the Paper "Language As a Definition of Cultural Identity Individuals that are born into specific cultures are taught through the practices of the culture how to relate to one another, what is acceptable in society, and what their roles are within the constraints of the cultural system. Just as children comprehend gender specifics from their interactions with parental figures from the time that they are born, culture becomes a significant part of the identity of the child because until socialization with the rest of the world begins with school enrollment, the child understands the world specifically through the culture that he or she is associated with. Language is a significant part of that cultural identity. Regardless of the language, each culture communicates with one another with variations of the proper spoken word, such as through slang, phrases, or abbreviated words."
Abstract One of the most fascinating aspects of the Canadian culturalidentity is the degree to which government policy and free enterprise economic principles converge and frequently collide in the field of the mass media. In large measure this is a consequence of Canada's geographic position next door to the world's last remaining superpower and predominant popular culture engine, the United States. This paper explores how the Canadian government, in order to maintain cultural distinctiveness in terms of national identity, has adopted a range of policies that promote the Canadian identity in the mass media and restrict the reach of foreign media and foreign media ownership.
Abstract This paper discusses the benefits and problems associated with the development of culturalidentity in schools. It describes how the classroom environments, curriculum and teaching style of a teacher impacts culturalidentity formation. The paper also describes how inclusion, tolerance and multiculturalism enrich the curricular framework, promote positive social values and stimulate enriching dialogue for students.
From the Paper "Gender, although not a feature of cultural identity per se, is definitely a facet of every culture. How cultures construct, view, and politicize gender lays the foundation for cultural identity. Public schools should help their students understand how gender is constructed, how gender is not rooted in biology, and how gender is related to economic and political power. Even if these weighty issues are not embedded into public school curricula, they can inform pedagogy. Educators can promote cultural identities that are egalitarian and humanistic."
Abstract The paper explains that racial and culturalidentities are a significant factor in the successful growth of the individual. From birth, people begin to understand the world from the perspective of their race and culture and are taught to function in a community that is comprised of those from the same backgrounds. The paper discusses how within the culture, the individual learns to speak, think and act as dictated by cultural norms. However, the paper considers that throughout life these standards that are related to the culture and race are consistently challenged in a diverse society and also through education.
Abstract This paper discusses culturalidentity and how people who live in multi-cultural societies may identify themselves as a citizen of that country, but they feel that they belong to a different cultural group. The writer describes how, as an American Pakistani, she identifies with two cultures and tries to somehow make a connection between the two cultures that she grew up in.
From the Paper "As an American Pakistani, I try to somehow make a connection between the two cultures that I grew up in. Despite the fact that I am completely open to interacting with any culture, I must admit that I find a sense of stability in being close to people that come from the same cultural group as I am. The bonding factor between me and other Pakistanis students, besides similar experiences as we grew up, is religion. Although we are not fanatics as people tend to classify us, religion is an important factor in our lives and as a college student or as a member of any collective, I tend to get close to people that share my beliefs. After September 11, the need for relating to other people that were going through the same as experience as I did increased and I grew closer to people from the same cultural group as I. It is hard to receive understanding from people that can not understand you because they have different cultural backgrounds. Of course, the fact that I relate more to Pakistanis students does not mean that I alienate myself from society. We still live in a multicultural environment that we must adapt to."
This paper discusses the political struggle over culturalidentity via "the naming" process, whereby certain social constructions reinforce systems of racial oppression.
1,650 words (approx. 6.6 pages), 8 sources, 2002, $ 62.95
Abstract Throughout American history, racial identities have been formed by not only politics, but also by the intersection of class and racial boundaries. The paper argues that African Americans must struggle to rid themselves of certain traits that have been internalized from the white power structure. African Americans must work to open a discourse outside of the parameters of language built by white elites. In this way they can shape their own racial and culturalidentity.
Abstract The cultural differences in the United States and Canada began after the American Revolutionary period. A plethora of theories exist regarding the rationale behind the variances in culture. Some theorists contend that the Vietnam War created a vast gap between the cultures, while others suggest that the ideologies of rebellion and peace forced the two cultures to become opposing neighbors. Religion, politics and national ideologies encompass the realm of cultural differences that exist between the countries. this paper examines the similarities between Canadian and American cultures that exist despite the many differences that also exist between the cultures.
Abstract This paper will discuss the book "The Hold Life Has: Coca and CulturalIdentity in an Andean Community" by Catherine J. Allen, and seek to understand how the life of the Andean people affects me, and why it is important to study these people's. By realizing how the book is teaching the student on the ways of the Andean people, the book can serve a good function for telling the story of this civilization, and of its great importance.
Abstract This paper addresses broad concepts, such as identity, cultural awareness, cultural communication, social norms, and sustainable global harmony, without compromising detail or completeness. It uses Chapters One through Four of anthropology professor Dr. Fitzgerald's book, "Metaphors of Identity: A Culture-Communication Dialogue", to illustrate the key factors contributing to effective interpersonal and intercultural relations. his paper not only summarizes the ideas in Fitzgerald's book, but also analyzes their content in terms of identity, culture, and anthropological ideals.
From the Paper "In chapter 1 of Thomas Fitzgerald's Metaphors, important concepts such as identity, cultural awareness, and cross-cultural communication are introduced. The prominent theme in this chapter is cultural awareness, which is becoming more and more necessary to create an effective global society. Communication is the key to achieving effective cultural awareness (Fitzgerald 1993: 2). Cultural awareness is actually a broad notion that recognizes and accepts all attitudes, values, social customs, and traditions different from the ones we are accustomed to (Fitzgerald 1993: 1). Additionally, it is essential to recognize minority groups within your own culture, such as the elderly or handicapped, to sustain harmony on a smaller scale."
Abstract This paper discusses how each individual begins to create self-perceptions from a very early age. According to this paper, these perceptions can be transmitted through parents, school, or society in general. However, as concepts are developed in conjunction with a child's culture, these ideals are also formulating a life-long view of the individual child as he or she relates to society, and that will allow the individual to ultimately create an identity that shapes their decisions, life style, and personal world within the larger social structure.
From the Paper "Many researchers contend that immigrants who are transported to another country have a greater chance of survival in the new land if they can quickly identify with a culture that is representative of the home of origin. This is evident because of language barriers, cultures norms, and the individual having a sense of belonging that supports who he, or she believes him/herself to be. This belief demonstrates the findings in the text that indicate that culture has a significant affect on the identity of the individual - to include methods of non-verbal communication, and personal space that is required when communicating. The text further stipulates that culture affects identity through the manner in which people view themselves."
This paper is a personal narration of a female student living in Canada, which explores the author's gendered cultural identify and relates it to anthropological and sociological theory.
Abstract This paper expresses the belief that a gendered, culturalidentity narration plays a useful role in finding or defining one's own identity with the caveat that identity is constantly evolving and being dynamically recreated. The author uses the falsity of the assumption that "all Canadians are peaceable" as an example of a ludicrous theory that a particular trait can represent the culture of an entire nation of people. The paper discuses the author's different experiences of being a woman and notes that economic discrimination against women in Canada is far more subtle than in Third World countries because women have the protection of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The paper relates that, growing up in a Third World country as a white, where she was assumed to be 'Westernized', resulted in experiences unlike Black and Chicana feminists. The paper includes quotations.
From the Paper "As I have had the experience of being both a Third-World feminist and a First-World feminist, am I now a Third-World feminist or a First-World feminist? Narayan states that she chooses to call herself a Third-World feminist because many of her formative experiences took place in this context. This seems to me to be a valid point of view. While I cannot reduce my identity to simply "Third-World feminist," I can certainly see that many of my experiences growing up moulding me into a feminist - and perhaps more of a committed feminist than I might otherwise have been, ..."
Abstract The paper discusses how the modern history of Vietnam's society and culture is a complex narrative that covers not only the Vietnamese war against the French and later the Americans, but also deep cultural divisions within Vietnam itself and, more recently, between Vietnamese in Southeast Asia and the many Vietnamese immigrants who have settled abroad. The paper examines how the complexity of this history can be seen in the challenge of answering the fundamental question of Vietnamese identity: "What does it mean to be Vietnamese?". The paper analyzes whether Vietnamese identity is limited to those occupying a geographic space at the southeast portion of the Asian continent, or whether it can be considered a broader social and culturalidentity.
Abstract After a Mapping session in which several Canadians of Caribbean descent examined details of their attitudes and behaviours, the group realized that they had been acculturated to the Canadian mainstream culture. Using the example of how elderly family members are cared for, it is possible to see that the Caribbean identity survives even though the culture surrounding it has undergone obvious change.
Abstract This paper discusses the world of the Vietnamese immigrant and how the generations are changing the role of the Vietnamese in society. It discusses that it is important for all immigrants to be capable of embracing their cultures, while beginning to become part of the western world. Yet, by embracing their cultures they form a societal identity that aids them to succeed.
From the Paper "Within the diversity of the United States there are many cultures that have spread across our lands, and within these cultures we each find knowledge that makes our country stronger. Following the war in Vietnam there existed a negative emotion within the framework of the United States against a people that had been our "enemy" for a great many years. Although there were thousands of Vietnamese who began to migrate to the United States, it was initially difficult for the Vietnamese to find their place in society, and to ultimately begin to embrace their culture as so many immigrants before them had. As was discovered in the early nineteenth century with the vast flow of immigrants into the United States, every person who was native born had to discover a way to learn from the new cultures that began to grow within the social structure."
This paper looks at the issue of self-expression of identity, focusing on the classroom setting and students with a non traditional sexual orientation or disability.
Abstract This paper explores several educational theories that deal with the formation of individual identity within the context of a classroom. The paper discusses social justice education theories, critical pedagogy theory, and social identity theory and looks at how these theories can help exlplain the development of identity within the classroom, specifically focusing on students with disabilities or a non-traditional sexual orientation. The paper relates that constructing an identity within the context of a classroom is difficult enough, but adding into that a disability or a non traditional sexual orientation makes the process that much more difficult. The paper concludes that several of the theories examined in the paper prove how identity formulation is in some ways hindered within a classroom based on the categories and labels children place upon themselves.
Outline:
Literature Review
References
From the Paper "This is the same concept for students with different sexual orientations; they should first be acknowledged for all of their various identities, and then treated and taught accordingly based on the collaboration of those identities. This type of teaching environment must begin in grade school and continue on into higher education in order to present a solid foundation for these student's identities to grow and flourish all throughout their educational career.
"Children who are forced with a disability have an especially hard time in formulating their own unique identity when compared to physically normal children. Deaf children of all ages suffer a lag in their language and communication skills, which in turn delays their own formation of a conception of a self ..."
