This presentation showcases how LCC students view their own identity and how they may be socialized into becoming themselves. Links to full interviews are provided.

Factors In Influencing Identity

Introduction:

The purpose of this study is to better understand how students at Lansing Community College view their own identity in terms of race, gender, sexuality, political stance and other similar factors. One of the main objectives of this is to see how these students think about the way they think about themselves. The question being, did they come to terms with their identity without coaching, or do they follow the lead of what they have been socialized into? In addition, do they even consciously think about why they perform their race or gender roles?

Method:

Five students total were interviewed during this study, ranging from 18-30 years old, two male and three female. They were presented with ten questions about their identity in which they responded with insight to their own personal experience.

You can listen to the recorded interviews.

Results:

The overall finding of this study is that it is highlighted in American culture that there are subliminal and purposeful ways that people are socialized into performing identity roles without having to critically think about it. Following that, the most prevalent ways this happens is through the role you have in your family, how you are socialized into performing a certain gender role, religious stipulations, and the ideals of one’s community. When making correlations, the religious stipulations and gender you are born as can often determine how the rest of these are conducted. American culture has created unspoken rules about how men and women are supposed to act and provide, which can be consistent throughout many different family dynamics in the country.