Identity and Happiness

Identity and Happiness

Earlier in class we were talking about Identity. In the first days of class we did a presentation about this topic among others related. And this is a very interesting topic to talk about related to happiness. Fining and understanding yourself and feeling comfortable with yourself is one of the most important things to be happy.

Cultural Identity is the part of our self-concept that is based on how closely we associate with a culture. Some co-cultures are:

Race

This is how people is characterized based on biological characteristics (eye and skin color, hair texture, body shape, etc.) However, today it is preferred to use the word “population” instead.

Ethnicity

Refers to a shared cultural heritage that is learned. The degree to which an individual identifies with their ethnicity can vary depending on many factors.
Native language (or first) is the language of one’s ethnic heritage. It is the language a person learns from birth.

Sex and Gender

Sex are the biological determined physical traits and gender are the learned roles and communication patterns deemed “appropriate” for males and females in the dominant culture.

Religion

Is a belief system with a set of rituals and ethical standards based on a common perception of what is sacred or holy.

Socioeconomic Status

The position of a person or family in the power hierarchy of a society based on income, education and occupation.

Age/Generation

People who are born a raised in the same generation may identify with a co-culture distinct to it. When people form different generations interact, their co-cultural orientations may find communication challenges.

Disability

Is any physical, mental, cognitive or emotional impairment that impacts how a person functions in society.

A person can identify themselves with any of these co-cultures listed above. Identifying yourself with group or co-culture makes you feel part of something and makes you feel like there is someone else that understands your situation and can relate to your experiences and stories. It is important to understand that how you identify yourself is how other are going to see you. And that we have to respect others’ beliefs and way of seeing the world even if ours is different. 

Isabella Mejia