9.9 Identity Development

Ethnic identity can by influenced by a(n) __________ that usually occurs during childhood and can often be traced to a specific event. A. triggering event B. unexamined identity C. personal exploration D. identity achievement

A. triggering event

sexual identity

which of the various categories of sexuality one identifies with

community culture

the people around you

__________ is typically determined through biology. A. Gender B. Sex C. Role D. Identity

B. Sex

Gender __________ are social expectations for how an individual should behave based on gender assignment. A. equalities B. identities C. stereotypes D. roles

D. roles

Ethnic identity may develop continuously over time and may contain all of the following cultural elements except __________. A. religion B. language C. customs D. temperament

D. temperament

lecture: section one

Section 1 00:00:01 PROFESSOR: We see gender really easily. The difference between males and females is a judgement we make accurately and automatically in most cases. But why does this occur, and how does identification as male or female affect people's identity or beliefs about who they are? In this section, we'll discuss the question, how does gender influence one's identity? 00:00:22 This is Section 1 of Identity Development. Our objectives are to describe various factors impacting the process of developing a gender identity and to discuss various factors impacting the process of developing a cultural and ethnic identity. In this section, we'll be describing various factors impacting the process of developing a gender identity. There are many aspects of a person that defines one's 00:00:46 identity or sense of self. Those include interests, beliefs, ethnicity, and gender. One can spend many years of exploration before they have a clear and stable sense of who they are. Gender is an important aspect of identity that helps define who we are. We're going to discuss it more in this section. 00:01:05 Gender identity is an aspect of one's identity that involves a personal sense of being masculine or feminine. It's expressed through social behavior. Gender and sex aren't synonymous terms, although many may use them that way. Gender is culturally and socially defined by norms and expectations set within societies. It's socially determined and expressed 00:01:27 through cultural means. Sex is biologically determined. Its expression is through physiological features. Therefore, one's identity is associated with the two, and it differs as well. One's gender identity is a sense of self as masculine or feminine. One's sexual identity is a sense of 00:01:46 self as male or female. Although the concept of gender is socially defined, masculine and feminine characteristics may be influenced by prenatal hormones. Research indicates that gender identity can be influenced by hormones that are developed during pregnancy. Sex hormones may influence identity behaviors. Gender identity begins to be formed by those around you 00:02:09 through social learning. People behave and react differently towards those they perceive as male or female. Children develop a solid understanding of what it means to be a boy or a girl in the elementary years. Children are often socialized toward specific behaviors, and they develop gender schemas. These are ideas of male and female behaviors. 00:02:30 They help provide guidance for how one should behave. Masculine and feminine displays of behavior are often flexible in childhood, meaning that boys and girls are more flexible in demonstrating both masculine and feminine behavior. For example, boys may not refrain from hiding emotions unless they're taught otherwise, and girls may express interest in socially determined masculine 00:02:50 activities, such as action-oriented play. By puberty, an individual's idea of what it means to be masculine or feminine is often more structured and inflexible than in earlier years. One demonstrates an increase in gender-specific interests, and generally decreases behaviors commonly associated with the opposite gender. For example, boys tend to shy away from emotional 00:03:12 demonstrations of behavior they've learn to associate with females, like showing sadness or crying around others. One also becomes well aware of gender roles. It's important to remember that there is variation in the behaviors of both genders, and it differs depending on how one is socialized. Gender roles are social expectations for how an 00:03:32 individual should behave and think based on one's gender assignment. They're typically learned through observation of others. Society and family members largely influence the definition of gender roles. Parents are going to be neutral role models for gender in children, but they'll also learn by observing society, by interacting with peers, and through the media. 00:03:53 Traditionally, it was felt that males and females should behave in a certain way in American society. American society generally assumes males are active, aggressive, independent, and outspoken. American society generally assumes females are considerate, gentle, emotional, and creative. Can you think of any female who demonstrates masculine characteristics, or any male who demonstrates feminine 00:04:18 characteristics? Some individuals do not demonstrate strictly feminine or masculine behavior. Androgynous individuals tend to demonstrate both masculine and feminine characteristics, for example, one who is nurturing as well as assertive. Individuals at all ages who are androgynous are more likely to pursue counter-stereotypical 00:04:39 interests and careers. They also tend to be fairly well-adjusted. Those who identify more with the opposite sex or adopt alternative gender roles may be stigmatized by society. Gender roles vary among cultures. The idea of what is masculine or feminine may be more or less rigid depending on culture. Learned gender appropriate behavior can vary within and 00:05:03 among cultures. For example, in the United States, makeup is generally identified as a feminine product. However, many males in America and in other cultures use makeup, for example, actors, athletes, and warriors. Body paint is used by many societies to decorate and bless warriors. Football players wear makeup under their eyes, called eye 00:05:24 black, to reduce glare and appear more intimidating to their opponents. Margaret Mead, a famous anthropologist, investigated a number of different cultures. She found that in the Chambri culture, women are considered independent, aggressive, and responsible. They control the finances, select men for marriage, and shave their heads. 00:05:45 Men, on the other hand, are considered submissive, artistic, and emotional. They wear makeup and spend a considerable amount of time on their dress and appearance. While not all agree with Margaret Mead's findings, we find that cultures vary in their interpretations of what's judged to be normal behavior for males and females. 00:06:06 To review in this section, we discussed biological and social influences on one's gender identity. We talked about how gender roles are established, as well as different gender stereotypes and gender role variations. Next, we'll discuss ethnic identity formation.

lecture: section two

Section 4 00:00:00 PROFESSOR: In the United States and in many other countries, we can see that ethnicities vary considerably. You may be a part of the dominant cultural group in the country or you may not. But we understand that cultures influence many of our beliefs and thoughts about life. And identity is not immune to the influence of culture. In this section, we're going to discuss the question how 00:00:21 does being different from the cultural group influence one's identity? This is section two of identity development. Our objectives are to describe various factors impacting the process of developing a gender identity, and to discuss various factors impacting the process of developing a cultural and ethnic identity. In this section, we'll be discussing various factors 00:00:43 impacting the process of developing a cultural and ethnic identity. Culture introduces norms that guide behavior by setting expectations. Cultural beliefs, values, and traditions influence one's sense of self or identity. Cultural identity is an aspect of identity that involves identifying oneself as a part of a specific culture. 00:01:06 For example, there are specific behaviors that are stereotyped as being American, French, or African. An individual's cultural identity is influenced by many types of culture. Dominant culture is the culture the society at large. Community culture includes friends, family, and so forth. Family culture is the immediate family and other relatives of an individual. 00:01:31 Religious culture includes the values, traditions, and practices of any religion an individual subscribes to. Individuals may select or reject certain features of the common culture when establishing identities. They may agree or disagree with the dominant cultural views or family customs. Acceptance or rejection of learn values influences one sense of self and how strongly one identifies with the culture. 00:01:57 For example, one may adopt a strong cultural identity if they agree with the dominant view of the majority within that culture. If not, an individual may wish to identify less with the culture they're apart of. One's ethnic identity is an aspect of identity that involves the awareness and acceptance of being part of a particular ethnic group. 00:02:18 Individuals of the same ethnicity often share traditions and a common language. One's ethnic identity develops continuously over time, and may contain various cultural elements including national origin, religion, language, customs, and values. Various ethnic groups may share a cultural identity. One may identify with being American and also identify with being Mexican. 00:02:44 Ethnic identity formation is influenced by a variety of factors, including family, personal experience, culture, and culture and family discrepancies. Let's discuss each of these. By the time children are five years old, they are able to classify their ethnicity. They begin to recognize the difference in their appearance from the dominant culture in the form of language, skin 00:03:06 color, or facial features. Family perspectives on ethnicity influence ethnic identity. They're the primary source of information about the ethnic group and relationship to the dominant culture. They are the lens through which a child learns to view the world, and a model for ethnic issues. If a family has a strong ethnic identity, then a child 00:03:26 is most likely to identify strongly with one's ethnicity. A family also helps to establish or negative attitudes towards the dominant culture the families is a part of. Positive or negative personal encounters with other individuals can influence one's ethnic identity. Experiences involving discrimination or prejudice may strengthen or weaken one's ethnic identity. 00:03:47 Encountering others who are tolerant of differences can have a positive impact on one's ethnic identity. For example, sometimes encountering situations where one is discriminated against or ridiculed for being part of a certain ethnicity can lead one to want to be part of a certain group less rather than more. As a result, the individual who experiences ridicule may attempt to highlight other aspects of their identity or 00:04:10 adopt behaviors that connect them to other groups. The dominant culture influences one's ethnic identity in various ways. For example, similarity to the dominant culture. Strong differences in values and appearances between an ethnic group and the dominant group may strengthen or weaken one's ethnic identity. It could also be influenced by degree of acceptance or 00:04:32 rejection by the dominant group. For example, if the dominant culture has positive attitudes towards one's ethnicity and accepts the ethnic group, it can make the formation of an ethnic identity a much smoother process. For adolescents whose ethnic heritage differ from the dominant culture, acceptance of ethnicity is essential in developing a positive ethnic identity and has a correlation 00:04:54 to higher self-esteem and better mental health. Establishing a stable sense of self may be more challenging or confusing for individuals with mixed ethnicity, or for those whose ethnicity differs from the dominant culture. At home, a child may be expected to act in more traditional, ethnic ways compared to what is normally demonstrated in the dominant culture. For example, they may have to speak the ethnic language at 00:05:19 home and behave in traditional ways that are different than what's accepted at school or in other public places. This could be confusing for children when they're developing a sense of self. Despite the differences between ethnicity and the dominant cultural views and behaviors, most adolescents establish positive ethnic identities. Strength of identity depends on how much the ethnicity is 00:05:41 nurtured by one's family, community, and one's personal appearance. The more one looks like a member of their racial or ethnic group, the more likely they are to identify with that particular group. So to review in this section, we discussed how one ethnic identity may be influenced by one's culture, but it's different than one's cultural identity. 00:06:01 We also discussed factors that influence identity formation, which include family, experience, culture, and culture and family discrepancies. In this lesson, we discussed identity development. We talked about various aspects of one's personal identity, and how they include once gender identity and one's culture and ethnic identity. Gender identity can be influenced 00:06:23 by biology and society. The strength of one's ethnic identity is influenced by factors like family, experience, and culture.

ethnic identity

a person's identification with a racial or ethnic group ex: i am jewish

gender schema

a set of behaviors organized around how either a male or female should think and behave

culture sets rules for

behavior, traditions, and other aspects of life

objective Discuss various factors impacting the process of developing a cultural and ethnic identity

family, community, personal experience, culture, appearance

aspects of identity

gender, belief, ethnicity, interests

gender identity

our sense of being male or female

objective Describe various factors impacting the process of developing a gender identity

sex, community, gender roles, gender schemas, socialization