Over the long history of our species, human beings have developed complex forms of identity, which makes it possible to interact and live together, says British Philosopher Kwame A. Appiah. Globalization has also seen new forms of differences amongst human beings generated all the time. Much before the 1960’s there were many identities that did not exist that we see in society today, such as Scientologists, punks, hip hop and so forth. These different identities are important forms of cultural differences that have evolved in society during time.
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These identities also shape the lives of many people around the world. As human beings we develop different forms of social identities that makes it possible to live together. We further construct our identities to suit our ever-? changing environments. Our social identifies change all the time, but they are not replaced with nothing, they are replaced with changed identities. For the purpose of my essay I would like to introduce to you how ‘social identities’ are socially constructed and the process through which it occurs.
For a better understanding on this topic, I will further explain concepts that are relevant to the construction of identities, and will introduce some key people who are academically valid social science figures in this subject field. By understanding that Social identity is constructed through socialization, I will hereby explain what this means. Socialization is a process by which adults or children learn certain types of behavior, roles and values. These behaviors are learnt from parents, friends, school and the environments humans engage in, to become functional members of society.
These various groups, institutions and individuals can be referred to as the ‘agents of socialization’. This learning process starts from childhood and continues to adulthood, and the process is ongoing. The socialization model, which includes altercasting, shaping and modeling, contributes too much of the learning process. I will draw experiences and examples from my own life through out this essay, to simplify certain concepts and show what I mean by the different terms used, such as, altercasting, shaping and modeling and so forth.
For example, my accepted role as a current UCT student has forced and persuaded me to act accordingly and behave in a certain manner, which is line to the institutions and its environment. I cannot be disruptive in lectures, nor can i miss my tutorials. Therefore altercasting ensures my student role at UCT. My behavior as a student is also reinforced by my lectures. Should I do well in my assignments, I will be praised for my good work and should I be disruptive in class, I will be asked to leave the lecture. This reinforcement of action from my lectures to me as a student is referred to as ‘shaping’.
Lastly, my behavior and values is conformed in respect to my peers, which enables better group identification. This conformity of behaviors, values and meaning is called ‘modeling’ (Woodward 2000). Looking at these concepts, we get an idea as to how they play an important part in the socialization process, which contributes to my social identity as a student and also enable me to function in society. In relation to socialization and social identity, its important to note that social learning stems from an anti essentialism view, rather than an essentialist view.
By which is meant that anti-? essentialism is a term stating that, identities are fluid and changing, where as an essentialist view states that, identities are natural and given and therefore fixed (Hall 1990,26). To further understand how social identities are socially constructed, we shall look closely at which symbols and symbolic meaning help construct and represent our identity. The crux of symbols and social identity deals with what contributes to the similarities that are necessary for a shared or common social identity.
As the social philosopher Mead points out, that symbols and representations are important in the production of our identities. These symbols of identity which can include such things as the clothes people wear, badges, scarves, objects and gestures, are all important symbols and signals that help identify with whom we share a common meaning and with those we distinguish as being different (Mead,1931). Mead goes on by saying, that being conciseness and imaginative of certain things enables the individual to take notes of and indicate to the self.
Thus by being conscious of certain things, we can carry images in our heads and imagine how others can see us through what Mead calls symbolizing. When symbolic interpretation is shared, people will see things in the same light. This will become a result of common understanding, and these symbols and gestures will arouse the same attitude, have meaning towards the individual and allow for interaction with each other.
I also quote Mead that “language a vocal gesture, is the most complex and important type of significant symbol for human beings. ” by this i mean that humans employ anguage and gestures that are different from other species. Humans have the ability to invoke thought before a response. Being gay, my identity is often associated with stereotypical symbols, such as the aids flag, flamboyant individuals, feminine or eccentric clothing and though these stereotypical images can be seen amongst gays, it’s not all gays that identify with these symbols. The more common symbol I identify with is the gay flag or rainbow flag as some call it. The colors of the flag have special meaning, and many gay people identify with this flag as a symbol of pride and liberation.
Therefore the meaning of pride and liberation and celebration is shared between individuals with a common attitude towards the symbol of the gay flag. We have so far seen how our identities come into being by the various factors. But to what extent are our identities constrained by the social structures in society that does or does not allow people the freedom to engage in the full capacity of their social identities. This question thus brings me to explain how structure and agency plays a vital part in the construction of identity.
Structure and Agency are concepts that explain how much choice and free will is governed by the ‘structures’ in society, and how human choice can be exercised through ‘agency’. Many religious, gender and social identities are suppressed due to the structures in society. Therefore and individual may be constrained to how much of their identity can be expressed due to these structures. Structure is the social system or social hierarchy that determines or causes peoples choice.
Agency is the ability to act or choose to exercise change and bring about action. Hawkes 1977) describes structure as ordered, possessing of wholeness of transformational procedures, and self-? regulating. Structures can be viewed as a means of controlling human behavior from which our identities are influenced. Structures also have rules and restraints upon human behavior. An example as to how structure plays a role in my identity as a gay man in South Africa, would be that the law allows homosexuality as legal, and civil partnerships as legal. Gay liberation and social movement can be seen as the ability to exercise human agency and has changed many laws and structures that oppressed gays and lesbians.
These structures therefore allow me to express my gay identity freely within South Africa. My partner, who is Italian and gay, is constrained by his gay identity as the law and structures in Italy makes homosexuality illegal. My partner thus has exercised his agency, in which he resists the structures of his country that governs homosexuality by moving into a country where homosexuality is legal. This situation shows how structures and agency can construct or suppress a gender identity. Thus acknowledgement of the following points discussed is crucial in the construction of one’s social identity.
It’s important to take not that socialization is the base from which identities are formed and created. Socialization together with altercasting, modeling and shaping make up the socialization process. This is and ongoing process which influences our social identity. Social identities are also ever changing, and different identities are created to the suit the context of different environments people engage in. Symbols and meaning play a significant part in the shared meaning for identification between groups and peers and as explained, structure and agency plays a vital part to how much of our identity’s are constrained or free.
