Identity is the sense of who we are. How the individual sees themselves- influences, too, by how others see the person. Identity creates different characteristic features that make you different from other people. Our identity is shaped by things that make us different from everyone else for example, facial features and beliefs.
Family:
The family, specifically parents, are central to primary socializations; this is because they are the first stage in a lifelong process. Children learn language and basic norms and values, these can be taught formally, but they are more likely to be picked up informally by children imitation their parents. Parents may use sanctions to reinforce approved behaviour and punish behaviour defined as unacceptable. Such processes develop children's roles within the family and society so that children learn how they are expected to behave in a range and variety of social situations.
Class:
Upper class: The children of upper class families are usually educated in top public schools and many go on to the most prestigious universities.
Middle class: These are professionals, their jobs usually include doctors and lawyers, They tend to adopt and intellectual identity gained from a long and successful education. They value cultural assets such as knowledge, qualifications, lifestyle and values, and feel it is important to pass these onto their children. They would eat together and they would use the opportunity to find out about what has been happening and reinforce values.
Traditional working-class identity: An important factor influencing people's identity is the work place. 'Work' and 'going to work' play a crucial part in defining a person's identity and giving them status. In recent years there has been a decline in manual work which was mainly laboured by the traditional working class individuals. Such jobs included working in heavy duty industries, such as mining and shipbuilding.
The 'New' working class: They are the continuation of the traditional working class individuals; because of the decline of work they live a more private home- centred life. People base their life around the home and family activities. Segregation of gender roles are less pronounced. Britain’s working class have benefited from a general rise in living standards, they are now more likely to own their own cars, homes, spend more on consumer goods and on foreign holidays. The working class would usually eat in front of the television and at different times.
Media:
The media represents different social classes which influence social class identity. Television programs focus on working class culture and they show them as aggressive, assertive a program which shows such examples is 'Shameless' and the media represents them as being able to successfully play the social security system. Whereas middle class families would prefer to watch ' Royal Family.'
Gender:
Males are more macho and women are more emotional. From a young age boys are given toy cars to play with and action toys. Young girls are given kitchen sets and dolls in order for them to play families.
The gender stereotypes of females are that they should be seen as good housewives, submissive, subservient and affectionate. On the other hand males are to be seen as macho, working class, breadwinner, rulers and aggressive.
Culture and society:
Culture plays an important role in the construction of our identity. Identity is made up of two components- how we see ourselves and how others see us. It involves some choice on our part- often actively identity with aspects of our culture with regard to particular groups or activities e.g. a football team, a friendship network a fashion or trend. However, our identity is partly imposed on us by our culture. We are born into particular cultural positions or statuses- we do not choose our social class, gender, ethnic group, age, religion and nationality. Social forces like these shape our identity.
The concept of 'culture' is often used interchangeably with the concept of 'society.' Culture forms the connection between the individual and society. It tells the individual how to operate effectively within social institutions such as family, marriage, education etc.
Zygmunt Bauman (1990) notes that socialization into culture is about introducing and maintaining social order in society. Individual behaviour that lies outside the cultural norm is perceived as dangerous and worth opposing because it threatens to destabilize society. Consequently, society develops cultural mechanisms to control and repress such behaviour.
Social Control:
The law is biased against the working class. This is because the police see certain groups as more deviant and more likely to commit a deviant act. This refers to the labelling theory. The police keep an eye on these groups. These groups tend to be young, male, working class individuals. More focus on ethnic minorities such as Afro- Caribbean. Part of the labelling theory results in an individual in not being able to fit back into society such as get a job like another person would be able to. This results in them turning to crime, which is known as 'self-fulfilling prophecy' which means that they are living up to the label.
In context of photography this is shown though various images. Two images which I recently studied that show similar images but differences between males and females are called 'is Zo'e Group, State of Para, Brazil [Zo'e Women] or [Zo'e Males] ' and where photographed by Sebastião Salgado.
In both these images show a similar setting however the women are shown as
being comfortable in their surrounding and are not altering there possitions even though a photographer is present. Also, none of the women are looking into the camera. All the women are sitting in a strange manners, I can see that two of the women are lying on hammocks; two of the women are standing up and resting against the leaves, one of the women is lying on the floor and the remaining individials are sitting down. 
On the other hand the photograph of the men look serious with each of them looking
at the camera apart from one of them which was looking away. In my opinion this
shows power and they wanted to present themselves as dominant figures. There
posture seems to be rather relaxed especially the four guys sitting down their
slightly slouching. The other five men are standing up and each of them is
holding on a stick which seems to look like part of the surroundings. Even though both photographs have been captured at a similar setting and by the same photographer they show the identity of males and females differently.
Bibliography:
Image:
Salgado, S. (2009) Zo'e Indian
Group, (Zo'e Women) [Online].
Salgado, S. (2009) Zo'e Indian
Group, (Zo'e Men)
London: Somerset House
Books:
B
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