One Person Many Identities

It is true to say that we all are composed of multiple identities (not personalities!). Where do these identities come from? Are they something we adopt or that we learn? If we do learn them how are they learned? This could be through a socialisation process which is centred on the family and other key institutions. White male? Teacher? Father? Husband? European? British/Scottish? How strong are all these identities and what norms govern the parameters of each?

It is generally believed that the stronger an identity the less it seems like an identity and more like a natural process. The danger might be that we forget that the perspective we have from the identity is only one of many perspectives!

It is interesting that the concept of adolescence and being a 'teenager' is a relatively new identity. Why has this occurred recently and what impact does it have on how people perceive themselves and are perceived by others?

There are of course new identities emerging all the time such as metrosexual, yuppie, NIMBY, Chav. Each one brings a new set of norms and behaviour.

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Ascribed or Achieved?

Are we a mixture of ascribed and achieved status? Are we more one than the other?This proved a main talking point in our Sociology class for June 2010. Some felt that poverty for example was an achieved status given that access to Education and Health etc were free and open to all.

Others disagreed suggesting a number of contributing factors such as the low pay of the parents and how that might change the status of children trapped in poverty.

It also emerged that it is more difficult to ascribe status in gender. Although it is an ascribed status we might also argue that gender status is learned and therefore achieved. This brought in interesting aspects of discussion on 'Norms'.

One student's comments on alcohol and the class system gave us all a lot to think about!