Identity and Cultural Awareness: Understanding the Complexities of Identity Formation

This article explores the complexities of identity formation and the role of intersectionality in shaping intercultural personhood. It also discusses the impact of otherization and stereotypes on marginalized groups.

Running head: IDENTITY AND CULTTURAL AWARENESS
IDENTITY AND CULTTURAL AWARENESS
Name of student:
Name of university:
Author note:

1
IDENTITY AND CULTTURAL AWARENESS
Identity has complex connotation that is shaped by a plethora of factors that includes
the individual characteristics of the person, social context, historical trajectory, political
factors. The study of identity as a subject commenced in the field of psychology (Tatum,
2000). Erik Erikson studied identity from the psychological perspective. He found identity to
be a complex pattern of interaction between the cognition and the social forces. Social
identity later emerged as a subject in social psychology and emphasized on the role of
intergroup dynamics. The identity of a person is a shaped through the looking glass self. The
term looking glass self is a concept by Charles Herbert Cooley. According to this concept the
identity of an individual is shaped by the perception of other individuals and groups during
the course of social interaction (Erikson, 1994). The incorporation of intersectionality in the
study of identity paved a new path in the to discern about identity formation. Currently,
scholars are interested to study about intercultural identity in addition to cultural identity.
Intercultural identity refers to transformation and adaptation beyond the conventional
framework of cultural identity (Kim, 2008). The aspects of individuation and universalization
define intercultural personhood. Awareness about one’s identity is dependent on otherization.
The term others is much used in the social sciences and it refers to those who are
located outside the spectrum of the dominant group. In a patriarchal society women can be
pushed to the periphery and excluded from the different institutions and decision making
process (Teo, 2014). Otherization of individuals or groups stems from the exercise of
prejudices and stereotypes. Creating national stereotypes about a person emerges from banal
nationalism, a term identified by social psychologist, Michael Billig. Banal nationalism is a
characteristic feature of nation states and advocates the principle of arduous commitment
towards the nation (Billig, 1995). The school textbooks and school curriculum is designed in
a manner that it cultivates and perpetuates the development of national identity and engage in
otherization of groups who cannot be accommodated into the imagination of the national

2
IDENTITY AND CULTTURAL AWARENESS
citizens. Otherness is created on the grounds of gender, race, ethnicity, class, age and sexual
orientation. Groups that have to endure otherization have to face extreme difficulty to debunk
the established notions set about them by the dominant groups and break the barriers. One’s
subordinate location can enable the person to view the world from a different perspective,
experience the power dynamics, develop a more refined view about social stratification and
develop a bottom-up approach (Piller, 2011). The dominant or the privileged groups prefer to
overlook inequalities so as to secure the rewards and benefits reaped through their dominant
social position. There are ubiquitous tensions between identity and intersectionality.
Intersectionality embodies the social identities and the experiences of the individual and
perceive the world from a larger picture. In our society, there are privileged and oppressed
identities which are determined by the social positioning of an individual. Identity and
intersectionality are not mutually exclusive terms. Intersectionality becomes crucial in the
construction and reconstruction of complex social identities.

3
IDENTITY AND CULTTURAL AWARENESS
References
Billig, M. (1995). Banal nationalism. sage.
Erikson, E. H. (1994). Identity and the life cycle. WW Norton & Company.
Kim, Y. Y. (2008). Intercultural personhood: Globalization and a way of being. International
journal of intercultural relations,32(4), 359-368.
Piller, I. (2011). Intercultural Communication: A Critical Introduction: A Critical
Introduction. Edinburgh University Press.
Tatum, B. D. (2000). The complexity of identity: Who am I.Readings for diversity and social
justice, 2, 5-8.
Teo, T. (2014). Encyclopedia of critical psychology. New York: Springer.