Identity and society

Who are we?

It's often an evolving answer. When we consider who we are
— or rather, who we believe ourselves to be — many of us
cite our backgrounds, beliefs, experiences and interests.
But what is our true identity, and what are the building
blocks that create the person we identify as throughout our
lives?

No one is born perfect and society has a lot to do with how

people are shaped. While some may argue that society does
not have a strong influence on individuals, it’s hard to deny
that there are countless examples of how society has an
impact on who we are as people. When our parents get the
exciting news of what gender we are, they buy us clothes
according to our genders. Girls get pink and the boys get
blue. That is what clothing companies offer, therefore
society accepts that concept as a rule. Basically, before we
are even born, society is already shaping our future and who
we are as independent human beings with a wide variety of
choices to make. Before we are born, our identity is
gradually being formed for us. Therefore our freedom to be
who we want to be is already being chosen for us before we
are even born.For example, my younger brother, ten years
old, has a pink T-shirt and he refuses to wear it because “it
is pink” and pink is a girly color. He is afraid of being teased
at school for wearing a color that only girls wear. Social
media promotes this idea which makes us constantly ask,
“What will people think if…”.

The Influence of School and Peers on Teens

Schools also play a huge role in shaping up the mindset and
character of teens. They meet all sorts of people there, and
in many cases it’s their friendships that determine how they
turn out. Good, caring, and civil friends will improve the
overall behavior of the kids, whereas bad company can ruin
them.

ETHNICITY, RACE AND CULTURE

One of the most complex and multifaceted factors that

influence identity formation is ethnicity, race and culture.
These aspects of our lives are continually evolving, both in
the way the members of each group define their group and
how society chooses to define these groups. While we have
no control over our race and ethnicity, we can decide to
immerse or distance ourselves from the cultures, religions
and customs that we're born into.

MEDIA

Like society, the media influences how we should — and

consequently, how we do — see ourselves. Media has an
immediate impact on our perceived reality. Consciously and
subconsciously, we receive messages through advertising,
television shows, movies, games and music that reinforces
or conflicts with our beliefs about life and whether or not we
should be content with who we are. These false depictions
of reality can harm our self-perception.
Overall, I have come to understand that the person I am
today is different that who I would be if society didn’t
influence my opinions and views on ideas and concepts.
Society shapes us through our gender, it dictates what jobs
would be suitable for us, what we should wear, how we
should look, who we are to socialise with and what is
acceptable or not. Society shapes us into how they want
their citizens to be and how they want gender roles to be
played out.

Remember that we are born with the rights to have our own
opinions and if you let society change that for you, you are
not yourself anymore. So my goal in my life is to be
confident in who I am and not let what society thinks affect
my self esteem. My answer to “does society shape who we
are” is therefore yes.