Prompt:Identify one assumption, ask a clarifying question, or offer an alternative interpretation using a Chapter 4 concept.
Peer Post:
In accordance with a constructionist viewpoint, ethnicity is something that individuals develop and mold via social interaction rather than something that is fixed or biological. In the movie Ethnicity and Identity, ethnicity is defined as a shared culture, customs, language, and genealogy, whereas nationality is defined as legal membership in a nation. The Peruvian event featured in the film is a prime illustration of this. While residing in the US, they offer traditional dishes, play music, and dress in traditional Peruvian attire. This demonstrates a blended identity since, despite being citizens of the United States, they still use clothing, cuisine, and celebrations to strongly express their Peruvian origin.
Boundaries and meaning influence ethnic identities, as explained in Chapter 4. According to characteristics like language or look, boundaries divide “us” from “them” (Cornell & Hartman, Ch. 4, boundary and meaning section). The speaker in The Struggles of the Ethnically Ambiguous describes being asked, “What are you?” all the time. This instance demonstrates how people attempt to categorize them even when they don’t obviously fit into one. This demonstrates that limits are not inherent but rather socially constructed and enforced by others. The distinction between statement and assignment is another crucial idea. Assertion is how people define themselves, while assignment is how others label them (Cornell & Hartman, Ch. 4, assertion vs. assignment section). In the same video, the speaker identifies as mixed, but others assign them an identity based only on appearance, which creates tension and misunderstanding.
Additionally, several forms of identity pressure are depicted in the videos. Outsiders who attempt to define the speaker’s identity based on physical characteristics are the source of pressure in The Struggles of the Ethnically Ambiguous. This demonstrates how individuals outside the group frequently have the authority to assign identities. Preserving Hmong Culture: Life After War, on the other hand, depicts community pressure. After migration, members strive to maintain their language, habits, and traditions. Insiders are in charge in this situation and promote cultural preservation. These two instances demonstrate how expectations inside the group, as well as external factors, can influence identification.
All things considered, the videos show how contact, culture, and power continuously create, preserve, and alter ethnicity. It is not set in stone; rather, it is subject to social influences and circumstances.
Discussion question: What impact, in your opinion, does social media have on people’s ability to claim their own ethnic identity as opposed to having it imposed by others?
Chapter 4 Reading attached
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