Sydney Svoboda

Getachew-Comm

Reflection #2

Chapter 3

I will start this writing off with the definition of identity- “The concept of who we are.” While reading Chapter 5 I read about many different ideas of identity. I believe all of these ideas are layers in our lives each revealing a piece of whom we are. The deeper the layers go the ones we believe to be the most sacred concept of identity hides another story of ourselves. For example, gender and age identity may be more prominent than say spiritual or sexual identity. The book states, “In the United States, young people are often encouraged to develop a strong sense of identity, to “know who they are,” to be independent and self-reliant, which reflects an emphasis on the cultural value of individualism.”  I believe this Chapter hits hard on us college students because this is the time of our lives where many of us are struggling to find ourselves. For many of us this is our chance to move away and start from scratch. We are also entering the minor stages of adulthood. Finally living by ourselves, having to make our own decisions, learning to balance our studies, social life, and jobs it can be quite tough.

I also think that with today’s society, we are quick to come up with judgement before even trying to get to know one another, and unravel the layers of identity we humans preciously hold. For example, today in my BSAD 111 class we were asked, “What we first judge about a person.” 93% of the class responded with appearance. Because of this I believe not all, but many young people in todays world are worried about what others think of them. We often times use the impression management theory (the ways by which individuals attempt to control the impressions others have of them.) to get others to accept us for our own identities and cultural qualities not what they believe them to be.  

1.     As a college student which identity would you say defines you the most?

2.     Which identity do you think people struggle with the most and why?