Advanced Essay #3: Unconscious Idenity

Identity is defined as the fact of being who or what a person or thing is according to the Dictionary. But, there is more to Identity than just its definition. This word can be interpreted in many ways, such as your very own identity, how you look at other people’s identity, what identity you take on, or how your identity isn’t sometimes decided for you. With all of these types of ways this word is interpreted has its own very meaning to it. But most important society plays a huge role as it shapes people’s identity. Society has its way of persuading people to be a certain way, and it can be presented in things such as media.

Think about when you first started to question things. Question things such as why people act a certain way? What makes a person look another way? How to act a way where you fit the social standards. Typically we’re all born into the world as a baby and when you are you’re given an identity. It could be your name, date of birth, skin color, and more. But as a baby or a kid, they grow up copying or taking in what others do. You can say they take on other identities unconsciously. And this new identity could potentially become something you like to do. But no one really explores their identity, or embrace it, not when you’re a baby. Not until that day comes, until you encounter something that will make you start to question things. This first experience can be anything. It can be your first day at school, first time encountering racism, first time introduced to a culture, or even when you first have to put your big boy/girl pants on.

I remember my very first time I started to think more about the world. It was my first time going into the outside worlds, typically I always played around in the house with family. I never really explore or adventure into the outside world yet. But when it was time, my mother told me to not hang out with a certain group of kids and I always wonder why. As I start to think about it more and see these group of kids, I started to see why my mother told me that. It became a part of my identity of how I view these people. Experience after experience I started to avoid them, but I soon realize that not everyone's the same. They all have their unique identity which makes everyone different. I realize that not everyone would act like the way they do, but I only saw it that way because my parents influence the idea of me.

Identity may be acquired indirectly from parents, peers, role models, and even the media. Children come to define themselves by what surrounds them. This can be how their parents see them. If their parents see them in a negative way, they will come to define themselves as a negative person. And generally, negative words tend to stick more than positive words. Children can also define themselves by the media, in today's society technology has become a thing, mainly for children. “Media plays an influential role in shaping how we think about and enact race in our everything lives” according to the Critical media project. To me this is mainly for children, for someone who is attached to media will start to change. Media is filled with different aspects of identity that can influence someone to dress or act a certain way. It is mainly filled with social norms, which can have an immediate effect on one’s perceptions of social reality.

This is a world where we will continue to advance forward, ask new questions, and discover new things. For Identity it is never “final,” and it will continue to develop throughout your lifespan. Anyone can change, and it can be based on factors like where you live, who you hang out with, and your experience with the outside world. People are changing their identity by the everyday thing they do. Everyone is unconscious changing and shaping their identity because of how society set standards. But people should start to understand Identity as a conscious thing, we should be able to make choices ourselves rather than let society make our identity. It is only a benefit to recognize what to happening or changing your identity.