The psychoanalyst Erik Erikson believe that a major task during adolescence is the development a concept of self-identity. During this period, young people explore different interests, ways of behaving, beliefs, roles and idealogies to develop and gain a sense of "Who I am". Individuals try to make sense of these values and paint a consistent picture. As such, individuals familiar with, and in close proximity to parents, teachers, friends, peers and those around them projecting similar cultural values, quite easily develop cultural identities.
Growing up in an Asian cultures, for example, individuals may acquire cultural values of respect for the family, seniors and others, learning to bow in greeting peers and seniors in Japanese culture, receive gifts with both hands in Chinese culture, and accept marriage arranged by family members in Indian culture.
On the other hand, growing up in a Western cultures, individuals may acquire values of freedom and independence, learning to earn their own money and pay for their own university education in British culture, the importance of freedom of speech in American Culture, and to value the importance of being able to swim in the Australian culture where they are surrounded by water.
However, with the increasing complex globalised societies which hold a mixture of cultures mean individuals are facing increased arrays of possibilities regarding how to behave and what to do. Nevertheless, there are two interesting developments that can be observed.
1. New cultural identities
While the increased internationalism within societies makes for a more difficult task of finding a congruent sense of "Who I am" for individuals, it has firstly increased the variety of cultural identities being developed. I, myself would be a good example. As a child in Australia, I rejected my Chinese identity, wishing that I was in fact a Caucasian so as to fit in and look similar to other kids. Having studied at International School in Hong Kong amongst others like myself who had been raised overseas, I graduated to the acceptance of my Chinese identity, spending my adolescence recognising myself as the equivalent of an 'ABC' (American Born Chinese) - an Australian Born Chinese. On maturing at university, I began to recognise the importance of my roots and saw myself to be the result of the combined Chinese and Western cultural values. I considered myself to be a part of new group formations and cultural expressions such as the 'Third Culture Kids', individuals who recognise themselves as individuals who have grown up amongst different cultures.
What may seem quite simple, yet still takes individuals time to realise is that our cultural identity is self-defined and personal based on experience and exploration. For many nowadays who, like myself, have immigrated, studied/worked elsewhere, or have families from differing cultures, being clear about "Who you are" is inevitably a struggle that is often gradual and lengthy as one cannot entirely run away from their origins. Whilst I feel like a British and Australia, although also Chinese nowadays, I could never runaway from the Chinese looks and expectations of others.
2. Increased cultural expression
Living amongst those from your own culture, days can pass as normal and 'culture' goes almost unnoticeable yet when encountering different cultures, people tend to express their own cultures in much more open ways and emphasis on cultural differences to hold on to their own cultural identities because this gives us the sense of what makes us us and what makes us special and different.
Whilst I enjoy the freedom provided by the Western culture, I quite happily and conveniently retained the unspoken Chinese tradition of accepting my parents monetary investment into my education until I was earning my own and enough to get by. Of course one would! Yet being in England, I have found myself being more active in celebrating Chinese traditions, sharing Chinese cultural knowledge with friends and even learning to cook Chinese which I would not have had an interest in whilst in Hong Kong. Conversely, having lived in England for the past 7 years with my British nationality, I am now much more inclined to cook and share the traditional roast dinner with my Chinese family when returning to Hong Kong rather than eating out as one typically does, make bread and butter pudding more often there than in England, and
Perhaps most interestingly though is what we miss by not understanding our own culture. At the same time, people are increasingly traveling the world with ease for holidays, work, studies or as a globe trotter, not only for the difference in location but for the differences in culture, yet how much do people know about their own culture and countries? As said by a friend of mine from the Netherlands, "I've never been to Queen's day or dressed up in Orange but when everyone from the Netherlands dressed up at the cultural evening, I was amazed by how much interest other people had and how fun it was to do things like that".
Growing up in an Asian cultures, for example, individuals may acquire cultural values of respect for the family, seniors and others, learning to bow in greeting peers and seniors in Japanese culture, receive gifts with both hands in Chinese culture, and accept marriage arranged by family members in Indian culture.
On the other hand, growing up in a Western cultures, individuals may acquire values of freedom and independence, learning to earn their own money and pay for their own university education in British culture, the importance of freedom of speech in American Culture, and to value the importance of being able to swim in the Australian culture where they are surrounded by water.
However, with the increasing complex globalised societies which hold a mixture of cultures mean individuals are facing increased arrays of possibilities regarding how to behave and what to do. Nevertheless, there are two interesting developments that can be observed.
1. New cultural identities
- Are you exactly clear about "Who you are"?
- Do you follow traditions and stereotypes of those from your culture?
While the increased internationalism within societies makes for a more difficult task of finding a congruent sense of "Who I am" for individuals, it has firstly increased the variety of cultural identities being developed. I, myself would be a good example. As a child in Australia, I rejected my Chinese identity, wishing that I was in fact a Caucasian so as to fit in and look similar to other kids. Having studied at International School in Hong Kong amongst others like myself who had been raised overseas, I graduated to the acceptance of my Chinese identity, spending my adolescence recognising myself as the equivalent of an 'ABC' (American Born Chinese) - an Australian Born Chinese. On maturing at university, I began to recognise the importance of my roots and saw myself to be the result of the combined Chinese and Western cultural values. I considered myself to be a part of new group formations and cultural expressions such as the 'Third Culture Kids', individuals who recognise themselves as individuals who have grown up amongst different cultures.
What may seem quite simple, yet still takes individuals time to realise is that our cultural identity is self-defined and personal based on experience and exploration. For many nowadays who, like myself, have immigrated, studied/worked elsewhere, or have families from differing cultures, being clear about "Who you are" is inevitably a struggle that is often gradual and lengthy as one cannot entirely run away from their origins. Whilst I feel like a British and Australia, although also Chinese nowadays, I could never runaway from the Chinese looks and expectations of others.
- Do you really have a sense of who you truly are, culturally?
- Do your children know about the culture they live in, as well as their background or do they have no consistent sense of self identified by Erik Erikson as identity confusion?
- Couldn't having or not having this knowledge impact or enhance with your interactions with others?
2. Increased cultural expression
- Ever found yourself wanting to do things from your own culture more so when visiting other cultures and realising their importance?
- Have you celebrating festivities and traditions of your own culture, which you've never done before, whilst with those from other cultures?
Living amongst those from your own culture, days can pass as normal and 'culture' goes almost unnoticeable yet when encountering different cultures, people tend to express their own cultures in much more open ways and emphasis on cultural differences to hold on to their own cultural identities because this gives us the sense of what makes us us and what makes us special and different.
Whilst I enjoy the freedom provided by the Western culture, I quite happily and conveniently retained the unspoken Chinese tradition of accepting my parents monetary investment into my education until I was earning my own and enough to get by. Of course one would! Yet being in England, I have found myself being more active in celebrating Chinese traditions, sharing Chinese cultural knowledge with friends and even learning to cook Chinese which I would not have had an interest in whilst in Hong Kong. Conversely, having lived in England for the past 7 years with my British nationality, I am now much more inclined to cook and share the traditional roast dinner with my Chinese family when returning to Hong Kong rather than eating out as one typically does, make bread and butter pudding more often there than in England, and
Perhaps most interestingly though is what we miss by not understanding our own culture. At the same time, people are increasingly traveling the world with ease for holidays, work, studies or as a globe trotter, not only for the difference in location but for the differences in culture, yet how much do people know about their own culture and countries? As said by a friend of mine from the Netherlands, "I've never been to Queen's day or dressed up in Orange but when everyone from the Netherlands dressed up at the cultural evening, I was amazed by how much interest other people had and how fun it was to do things like that".
- Have you visited places and done the things that tourists would do in your own country? For example, as an English, have you visited the World of Top gear, punted in Oxford or visited Bakewell to try the real Bakewell tart?
- What are you missing that is a part of who you are? I certainly have - I did not even try traditional English 'punting' until a visit from my family in the last year.
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