Self-definition
There are many important aspects to life that can help shape an identity, including nationality, class, religion, gender identity, sexuality and ethnicity.
Activity 5 How do you define yourself?
Write down a list of words you would use to define yourself, in order of importance. See how many of these draw on your work and your leisure activities (the things that you do) and how many draw on your personal characteristics (the things that you are).
Then ask someone you know well to complete this exercise about you.
Compare your list with theirs.
Discussion
How did you find carrying out this exercise? Notice that you have just applied the previous theoretical discussion on the shifting nature of identity to your own life and experiences.
Were factors such as ethnicity, class, gender identity, political beliefs, sexual identity, religious belief (or lack of it) and vegetarianism significant factors in your list, or did you include others?
This exercise should show how complex the notion of identity can be and it should warn you against making assumptions about other people’s identities.
OpenLearn - An introduction to social work
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