Old specification Module 5: Identity

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Identity

What is identity?

According to Jenkins "Identity is a negotiable concept". Perhaps the simplest way to explain it would be to say it is the aspect of our self image which we wish to present to the outside world.

Why and with whom is it negotiable?

We don't have a free choice when constructing an identity to present to others - we negotiate or agree with others in our culture and society how far or close to the norms of our society we wish to be. What sort of woman or man do we want to be and what sort of man or woman will our society allow us to be?

If we are Muslim and living in Saudi Arabia, our female identity will be constructed differently and reflected to others differently than if we are Christian and living in the UK. This reflection of our gender identity will be done through clothing, language and personal possessions.

The pictures below show the idealised Western 'norms' for male and female identity in terms of desirable body shape. Women are supposed to have ridiculously tiny waists, over-long legs and big breasts. Men are supposed to have triangular shaped torsos, a six pack and broad shoulders.

It gets even trickier to negotiate our identities when we add clothing, jewellery and body adornment to the requirements. Look at Barbie and Ken below. Are we 'girlie' girls in dresses or tomboys in trousers? Are we 'surf dudes' or 'emos? Every choice we make communicates something about ourselves to other people. Something that will either mean we are accepted or rejected by others.

There is a very good unit on Identity in the Open University resource on the Internet - click on the link above.