Self Identity Shaped by Traditions Essay - 1186 Words

Self Identity Shaped by Traditions The identity of ones self can largely be defined by ones culture and heritage. Family makes up the most part of your culture as well as the place you call home. To fully understand yourself you have to investigate all the cultures you are comprised of through your family and heritage. In â€Å"Everyday Use† Alice Walker takes a deeper look at the concept of heritage through the conflicted relationship of Mamma and her two daughters. The story shows was heritage will shape yourself along with your life to make you the person you are today. Culture is an important element of self- identity and contributes to how individuals view themselves and the community they live in. Family is our foundation. If we†¦show more content†¦Traditions are very important to keep going in families around the world. Most families have different traditions that they live by, and have different opinions about how to live their life. In this case, many people have their own opinions on â€Å"the sleepover question†. Amy raises the point of stating that to attempt to understand one’s teen can help them communicate better and additionally help influences their choices which promote more responsible sex education, even if that means agreeing to sleepovers. Through her study she explores American’s traditional â€Å"don’t ask, don’t tell† policy versus the Dutch’s accepting and open attitude. Teenager’s sexual activity is undeniable in today’s day and age and there is no po int attempting to hide it or sweep it under the rug anymore (Schalet 483). This shows that different cultures feel different ways and act upon situations very differently. The way people are raised will usually stay with them their whole lives, and eventually get passed down. For most American families, it’s tradition to not have the opposite sex sleep with you unless you live together or are married. This is something that is valued and passed down through generations. The ways in which people live within the community are passed down from generation to generation. Heritage is the commonality for the members within the community that builds feelings of belonging to their community. IShow MoreRelated Shaping Identity Essay839 Words   |  4 Pages Shaping Identity Identity. What is identity? One will say that it is the distinct personality of an individual. Others will say that identity is the behavior of a person in response to their surrounding environment. At certain points of time, some people search for their identity in order to understand their existence in life. 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