User:Vedisobe/Cultural identity

This is Jenny Lunte editing this page, not User: Vedisobe

This is Chase Patton contributing to this page not User: Vedisobe or Jenny Lunte

Goals

 * Revise the lead
 * Add a section about the History of Cultural Identity
 * Colonialism
 * Theorists who have contributed to knowledge
 * Add section about Biculturalism
 * Acculturation, assimilation, immigrant experiences
 * Add section about Transracial Adoption

Lead
Cultural identity is a multi-dimensional concept that encompasses a wide variety of intersecting historical, political, and social discourses that influence a person's understanding of (belonging?) self in relation to their environment (social world, others?). Cultural identity is related to race, ethnicity, nationality, gender, religion, social class and any other social group (construct, concept?) that shares a distinct culture. These constructs (concepts?) contribute to an individual's self-conception, forming a foundation for how the self communicates and situates themselves within the social hierarchies.

Theorists/Influential Scholars/Disciplines

 * Du Bois 1997: "double consciousness" that African Americans experience, awareness of one's conflicting identities, no race is inferior to another
 * Mead 1934: symbolic interactionism theory
 * Goffman 1959: dramaturgical analysis, social construction of self
 * Said 1978: orientalism, the construct of the "other", the threat of identity and violence
 * Foucault 1982
 * Anzaldua 1987
 * Asante 1998: Afrocentrism

Lead
CP - Lead

The history of cultural identity develops out of the observations of a number of social scientists. The history of cultural identity is important as it outlines how our identities provide a way in which we see ourselves in relation to the world in which we live. "Cultural identities...are the natural, and most fundamental, constitutive elements of individual and collective identity."

Article body
CP - Article body

HISTORY

Myron Lustig is credited with contributing the concept of cultural identity theory.

Franz Boas is another important figure in the creation of the idea of cultural identity. Boas is known for challenging ideas about culture. Boas promoted the importance of viewing a culture from within it’s own perspective and understanding, not from the outsiders view point. This was a somewhat radical perspective at the time.

FUTURE

Globalization is connected to influences in economics, politics, and society. Accordingly, globalization has an impact on cultural identity. As societies become even more connected there are concerns that cultural identities will become homogenized through the increased level of connection and communication. However, there are alternative perspectives on this issue. For instance, "the spread of global culture and globalised ideas has led to many movements designed to embrace the uniqueness and diversity of an individual’s particular culture."

THEORISTS

A number of theorists contribute to the concept of cultural identity. Contemporary work completed by Stuart Hall is considered useful in understanding cultural identity. According to Hall, identity is defined by at least two specific actions which are similarity and difference. Specifically in settings of slavery and colonization, identity provides a connection to the past as well as disintegration from a shared origination.

Additionally, cultural identity performs an action which preserves and informs the character of individuals and groups over time. Cultural memory