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How do we Identify Ourselves and Others?. March 30, 2005. Important Questions. How has “race” been shaped by both kinds of colonialism? How have ideas of race/ethnicity changed over time? What relationships are there between nationalism, race and ethnicity?. Ethnicity Gender Sexuality
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How do we Identify Ourselves and Others? March 30, 2005
Important Questions • How has “race” been shaped by both kinds of colonialism? • How have ideas of race/ethnicity changed over time? • What relationships are there between nationalism, race and ethnicity?
Ethnicity Gender Sexuality Nationality Nation-States Religion Are these identities ascribed or achieved? Identity Categories
Identity • Cultural classification system • Self/Other; Us/Them • How one defines who they are in relation to others. • High School: Nerds, Jocks, Geeks, Preppies, Cheerleaders, Stoners, Goths, Alternative People,
Identity is… • Fluid and Social • Context Specific • Called by multiple terms • Same terms have different meanings for different people • Imbued with meaning
Common Identities, ca. 1900 • Class • Gentleman, Lady, Bum, Hobo • National Origin • Irish, Scottish, Italian, Indian, Chinaman, Negro • Geography • Yankee, Carpetbagger
Common Identities, ca 2005 • Class • White Collar, Blue Collar, Yuppie, Redneck • National Origin • Hyphenated Americans • Geography • Southerner, Midwesterner, West Coaster • Occupation • Academic, Politician, Entrepreneur • Age/Generation • Baby boomer, “Greatest Generation,” Generation X
Gender • Woman: Gender • Female: Sex • Gender often varies with age • “Third” Sexes: • Eunuch • Hijra • Two Spirits
Heterosexual Homosexual Bisexual Transexual Other Examples: Etoro (New Guinea) Azande (Sudan) Ancient Greece Sexuality
Perceived Similarities Biology Skin Color Physical Features Body Shape/Size Culture Language Religion Nationality Lifestyle Examples: Irish Jewish Japanese, Korean or Asian? Ethnicity
Nation, State, Nation-State • Nation: Single cultural group (Cherokee, Chinese) • State: independent, centrally organized political unit • Nation-State: Combined political and cultural units, basis of global political system in 20th century.
Ethnicity Matters • Rwanda • Twa (Pygmy) 1% • Hutu (Bantu farmers) 84% • Tutsi (Hemitic pastoralists) 15%