Cultural and Ethnic Identity
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Cultural and ethnic identity, Textbook p. 374-375 and Trimble (http://pandora.cii.wwu.edu/trimble/research themes/ethnicity identity.htm
An ethnic group is a group of people living together sharing common customs (Trimble). Ethnic identity can therefore be referred to as that desire to be one with one’s ethnic group, sharing values and customs in common. Identity is thus sameness of people who share common customs, traditions, and historical experiences and in a way geographical location (Trimble). While looking at ethnic identity, an individual views him or herself and viewed by others as belonging to a particular ethnic group. The individual chooses to associate with such a particular group, does the things the people in that group do, and behave as they do. The person simply follows the way of life of that particular group of people.
Since culture refers to the way of life of a people, cultural identity can be seen to refer to identifying with the way of life of a particular group of people. Hence, the group of people a person identifies with determines his or her culture. This identity can result from being born in such a culture or being assimilated through association. Individuals can be psychologically attached to a particular ethnic group (Trimble).
There are those who argue that ethnic identity is a means by which a group distances itself from another. In this sense, individuals create a unique identity that differentiates them from other groups. This culture distinguishes the people as belonging to this ethnic group or the other.