When our professor assigned us the project of finding five items that represented our culture and displayed our cultural identity, I felt as though it was a daunting task. I had no idea where to begin, but when I was able to brainstorm and reflect, I came up with many ideas. There are many elements that are represented in our cultural identity, such as race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, ability, age, religion, social class, nationality, etc. I chose the top 5 topics that I felt had a particular impact in shaping the collective me and my social identity.
1. Barbie- Race/Ethnicity. I grew up with Barbie being perceived as the ideal for what I wanted to be when I grew up, for she was my favorite toy and I wanted to look just like her. While I grew out of this idea, the image of what I am "supposed to" or "should" look like is still engrained within me and is continually influenced by the media. Barbie portrays the ideal.
2. A picture of me and my boyfriend Travis- Sexual Orientation. I have grown up as a heterosexual, white female throughout my life, and it has not changed over time. Travis is a large part of my life, for he is whom I rely on day to day.
3. Perfume- Gender. My grandfather used to say to me "you should always smell like a lady," while that is a controversial statement, I feel that there are specific scents that represent femininity. My scent, Alien, portrays my feminine nature.
4. Cross- Religion. God is a huge part of my life, and is something I have grown up building a support around. I seek guidance, comfort, joy, and wisdom through my religion, and it very much effects how I act and perceive my environment on a daily basis.
5. Zeta pin- Social Status/Identity. All throughout college, I have been a member of the Zeta Tau Alpha sorority. While this provides many stereotypical references, there is also a sense of community and belonging paired with this organization. I have made numerous friendships and enjoyed my college years on this sorority's behalf.
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