Reflect on what you learned from the identity wheel activity. How do our
identities effect the way we interact with the world around us? Be sure
to reference the discussions in your group as well as the full class.
Blog posts must be 200-400 words, proofread, and void of common grammatical errors.
Your blog posts are due before the start of class next week.
If you have any questions, please email kualbreaks@gmail.com.
The identity wheel was very beneficial to my group during the second class. Not only does the identity wheel help you find out things about your group members, but it really pushed me to think about what was important to me. While in our group, we presented our wheels to each other and we all asked follow-up questions pertaining our certain identities. It was a great way to learn about common interests and learn a lot about the person who was a stranger just a week ago. I think our identities play a big role in the way we interact with the world around us. These identities have shaped us in one way or another and we wouldn’t be who we are today if our identities and experiences were different. For example, I grew up in a household with married parents. I wasn’t familiar with divorce until I was older and had friends with split parents. To me, marriage equals happiness and is a lifelong commitment, and one of my ultimate goals in life. To some of my friends, marriage is something they aren’t interested in because of the difficulties their family went through during a divorce. In class we watched a video about the correlation between gender and sex. I think it is very interesting that society decided that gender and sex correlate so heavily together. We raise our children to either be masculine or feminine, based on their biological characteristics. As I am getting older, I have learned more about the transgender community. They see it more as an assignment of reproductive organs at birth, which no correlation with gender. I think this ideology is something that society should try to accept more.
ReplyDeleteThe identity wheel has definitely been one of my favorite activities of Alternative Breaks, for the fact that every time I've created a new one each year it seems to alter a bit. The identity wheel helps each and every one of us distinguishes who we are and display our different characteristics and qualities that make each individual unique. It was nice to be able to share and listen to all group members to learn more about each of them and distinguish group dynamics. We briefly discussed in our group how the TEDx gave us all an expanded view about gender and identity. As far as interacting with society, I believe that each individual person will interact differently with society based on his or her identity. For example, someone with a straight identity would most likely interact differently with the world than someone who identified as being gay. Going off of this topic, the TEDx talk that we watched in class about gender and identities really gave me a whole new perspective on gender, biological sex and sexual identity. It was discussed in the TEDx talk about how our society has restricted views and ideas about gender and how as children we are taught the bare minimum about gender to help us fit into categories. I thought that this was very important concept that not a lot of people are able to make sense of. I took Anthropology one year ago and we discussed the norms of gender roles and how society teaches women to grow up to be lady-like, proper and polite, and become the care-taker of the house and kids. On the other hand, men are taught to be tough, rough, and not to be a wuss. I feel that this TEDx talk really opened up my views on gender and really expanded my way of thinking on how gender, biological sex and sexual orientation are not all the same. Although our society seems to place each and every individual into groups based on their identities, I think that it is time for us to realize that we need to stop trying to group individuals into certain categories and instead encourage those people to be proud and confident of their very identities.
ReplyDeleteThe identity wheel activity was really interesting to me. First of all, it was really nice to do it as the second class because it helped me to better know the people I will be going on my break with. I really enjoyed the activity, and it was interesting to see how people defined themselves. My group talked specifically about the boxes we are put into in society, such as age, gender, race, and sexuality. I loved that the class watched the TED Talk about gender fluidity. It’s a topic I feel fairly well versed in, but it makes me happy to know that everyone else going on break at least has this idea about gender fluidity, and that with identities, there truly is no black and white, just shades of gray.
ReplyDeleteI see the identity wheel as not only something you are, but more specifically, how you perceive yourself. If I were to have my mother, a close friend, and an acquaintance fill out an identity wheel for me, they would likely be very different from one another, and different from the wheel I made for myself. How somebody perceives himself or herself is both a very holistic approach to stating their identity because only they know who they are in all aspects of their lives, but yet, it still excludes the important aspect of how others perceive them, which is a vital part to identity. Whether we like it or not, much of who we are is shaped by how others perceive us and interact with us based on those perceptions. I think an important part of someone’s identity, more than what he or she says they are, is actually seeing how and why they perceive themselves the way they do. For example, I wrote down that I’m a theatre kid. What’s more interesting than me being involved in theatre, however, is why I would choose to define myself that way, because not everyone I know would define me as that because it’s not my major. I would love to do an activity that delves deeper into this topic and explains why, specifically, people chose the identities they did, and also what other people might put on an identity wheel for them.
*THIS IS MY SECOND BLOG POST MAKING UP FOR MISSING CLASS ON 2/12/15*
ReplyDeleteAs a woman and a junior at KU, I hold many identities that make me exactly who I am. I carry a need to give and serve others, as I am a Pre-Nursing and Pre-Psychology student. I too am a bit shy or as others may refer to as being an introvert. I believe that all of the identities that I affiliate with play a huge role in my way of life and interacting with others. I do believe that some of the identities I hold are a bit more important than others, although each specific identity I hold comprises its own puzzle piece which makes up the individual I have come to be. I solely believe that being a woman, and being straight are two of the most important identities that I possess, for the fact that there seems to be a division in today's society between males and females as we discussed in our last class. I also believe that because I am straight I have somewhat of an advantage in society for the fact that there is an abundance of discrimination against LGBTQ individuals in today's society. I believe that these identities that I’ve just discussed on top of being a full time student who works two jobs are the key identities which I belong. Now that I have revealed the key identities of my own self, I want to briefly talk about the way I interact with society concerning my identity. Being an introvert as well as a woman definitely affects the way I interact with others. It is a bit challenging for me to take charge of certain situations. I have never been much of a leader in my lifetime, but as I’ve grown up I’ve realized that I’ve become much more open to meeting new people and stepping outside of my comfort zone. With identities it is vital to know and be open to who you are. I believe that it is very important to be able to associate oneself with particular identities and to fully understand exactly how one’s identity can and will affect their everyday lives.