discuss your own identity taking into consideration the way

discuss your own identity taking into consideration the way that Madhu Kishwar discusses the shifting importance of different aspects of her own identity.

Solution

Discuss your own identity taking into consideration the way that Madhu Kishwar discusses the shifting importance of different aspects of her own identity.

Identity: In psychology, sociology, and anthropology, identity is the conception, qualities, beliefs, and expressions that make a person (self-identity) or group (such as identity and cultural identity) different from others. Beyond the basic need for a sense of control, we are deeply driven by our sense of identity, of who we are. We are in the middle of our individual world, where we place central importance on our sense of individual self. As Descartes said, ‘I think, therefore I am.’ Many social theories are to do with creating or preserving our sense of identity.

Identity and needs: a hierarchy of needs, with the particular revelation that when lower level needs are not met, then higher-level needs will be abandoned in favour of shoring up the deeper needs.

Take a look at the needs:

Social comparison

Although we define ourselves by our membership of groups, we also define ourselves by comparison and contrast with others. If we have more than others, we feel superior. If everyone has the same as us, we feel equal.

The size of gaps also matters. If I have a lot more than others, then I probably feel a lot more superior. I may also feel more isolated as I realize that they may feel envious of me.

This social comparison often appears in forms of status, which is one reason we are driven to purchase status symbols that signals to others (and particularly to ourselves) that we are better in some way - richer or more tasteful, for example.

Social comparison is often along some measure of success, which is itself a social construction. Our sense of identity degrades when we fail - which we often do as we accept constant social escalation of what \'success\' means.

Madhu Kishwar

            Madhu Purnima Kishwar is an Indian academic, and writer. She is a Senior Fellow at the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS), based in Delhi, and the Director of the Indic Studies Project based at CSDS which aims to promote the study of \"Religions and Cultures in the Indic Civilization\".

            Every human being is the product of many cross-cutting, multilayered identities. For instance, a vital part of her identity is defined by her gender. Most identities (e.g., those based on nationality, religion, language) are acquired or mutable. A few are fixed and immutable, such as biological parentage. Identities based on native land, village, or locale where a person is born and reared are also fixed.

            For the most part, people take these identity layers for granted and they find expression in their appropriate realms at different points of time. However, a group or person may begin to assert a particular identity with greater vigour if it provides greater access to power and opportunities, as happens with caste or gender-based job reservations. Alternately, a person begins to assign a high priority to a particular basic identity if she or he perceives it as threatened or suppressed, especially if that identity is essential to the person\'s personal, economic or social well-being. For instance, if the government implemented censorship laws that forbade me as a writer to publish and disseminate my work freely, she would be forced to give greater emphasis to her identity as a writer, and to devote a good deal of her time and efforts to fighting against the censors. This struggle may require working in alliances with other writers, though our other identities and commitments may have very little in common.

Why identity is important:

An important implication relates to identity change, i.e. the transformation of identity.

Contexts include:

            Nowadays world it is very significant to identify oneself with at least one thing (ones ethnicity, nationality, race, religion, or a particular belief). Many people still grapple with the notion of identity in many countries, regions, and various ways in order to fit or adapt into any environment (social, economic, cultural, political, etc). Ones identity determines ones position or situation in society wherever one lives. However, finding the right type of identity can be challenging for many people sometimes because of the difficulties they face in the process of choosing their identities.

4. Since you are a Sudanese you should be able to identify yourselves with your ethnic, cultural, traditional, traits (nationality). Remember when you identify yourselves with something you believe in it and it will influence your behaviour. If you identified yourself with a tribe, the way you behave and act reflect what/who you are. Thus, identity is very important.