Identity

Identity is usually defined as being the characteristics that make a person an individual. Do we really only have one identity? I believe that there are many different identities that make us who we are. Judith Martin and Thomas Nakayama list 10 different identities in Experiencing Intercultural Communication: An Introduction. The identities include:

1. Gender Identity
2. Sexual Identity
3. Age Identity
4. Racial and Ethnic Identity
5. Physical Ability Identity
6. Religious Identity
7. Class Identity
8. National Identity
9. Regional Identity
10. Personal Identity

These identities are separate, and combined make up our personal identity. Some of the identities, which make up our personal identity, are influenced by other people in society. For example religious identity is usually something we acquire from our parents. I was baptized into the Catholic Church by my parents choice, not my own. My class identity was determined by my parents as well. I am from a middle class family, and that is how I define my class identity today.

It is interesting that who we are is not always by our own choice. Our gender and sexual identities are very likely based on our biology. Our age identity is determined by our birth, which we also have no control over. Race and ethnicity are determined by our ancestors.

Some of the identities we can control include our national and regional identities. We have the choice to move if we would like to identify ourselves as another nationality or redefine what region we are from. To some extent we have control over our physical ability identity. We are able to exercise and eat healthily to maintain good physical ability identity.

Our personal identity is made up of many different identities. Some identities we have control over, and others we do not. These identities are what make us similar and different to one another.