Key Content: Different factors that shape identity and contribute to a diverse society
Nationality
Race and ethnicity
Religion
Socio-economic status
IDENTITY
One’s identity comes from how one defines oneself, and how others define you
Learning about identities involves understanding what makes us similar or different, thereby bringing people closer and/or create tensions and challenges
Identities vary and are complex, as they are shaped by various influences in society.
NATIONALITY
People who share a common set of traditions, common practices, common history and common language and live in the same country and/or geographical area.
A national identity is a belief in a common sense of belonging that shapes one’s personal identity.
One may consider others and themselves different from others, based on their differing cultures and beliefs associated with their nationality.
Expressions of national identity can be reflected through lifestyle choices such as in the form of food, cuisine or language
e.g. Singlish is a defining characteristic that makes up who Singaporeans are, while New Zealanders may identify themselves as Kiwis
Nationality also influences the type of sports played and their preference for certain cuisines and choices of music etc.
e.g. New Zealanders and their common love for Rugby makes it easy for them to identify with one another. Through Rugby, they may become comfortable interacting with one another and this bonds Kiwis and develop a sense of belonging to their country
People from the same nationality relate better to each other based on common experiences
When one strongly identifies with this national identity due to their love for the country, people and practices, it shapes the way they see themselves as distinct from people of other nationalities, thus shaping one’s identity.
RACE AND ETHNICITY
Race: classification of people based on physical characteristics that are biological in nature.
Ethnicity: one’s ancestry, cultural practices, language, customs, food and dressing that are associated with an ethnic group. Therefore, one’s ethnicity may, in fact, differ from one’s race
Ethnicity may define one’s identity as it has a strong influence due to:
Ancestry, because our lives are still rooted in and affected by our family heritage and culture
One’s ancestry comes with a unique set of beliefs, customs and practices, as well as family traditions which define the lives and experiences of individuals.
Ethnicity also influences one’s preferences or choices, and how one sees themselves and others
RELIGION
Religion is an organized collection of attitudes, beliefs, practices, world view and worship of god(s).
The religion that individuals believe in may be determined by birth or by choice
Most religions embody a set of shared core beliefs and practices e.g. peace / praying
With religion, believers keep to these beliefs and practices regardless of nationality and ethnicity
These beliefs would shape the way we interact with others, the choices we make and our thinking, thereby influencing the ways of life and distinguishing one identity from another.
The main religions in Singapore generally all promote attitudes of compassion and helping others
SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS
Socio-economic Status (SES) refers to an economic situation shared by a group of people and some determinants are occupation, income, education and ownership of wealth.
Socioeconomic status shapes one’s life experiences as it affects personal choice of housing, food, entertainment and activities, as well as career, recreation and education choice, thereby influencing one’s interaction with others.
In Singapore, an individual or household’s income is used as an indicator for one’s socioeconomic status.
Singaporeans often define their socioeconomic identity based on their education history, qualifications and job.
Thus, we may feel conscious of class differences because Singapore usually defines success in life according to one’s income and wealth. This may also influence the way they perceive others
SES directly influences one’s lifestyle and social circle of friends and people we interact
Higher: wealthy, better access to food, healthcare and housing.
Middle: white collared workers, PMETs.
Lower: considered relatively poor, may need financial help, blue collared workers / unemployed.
Social Mobility - The ability to move from lower to higher levels of income
Individuals in society can move from lower to higher levels of income through social mobility.
However, in Singapore, it is recognized that it has become increasingly difficult for lower-middle SES groups to improve their socioeconomic circumstances.
Therefore, Singapore’s income gap is rapidly widening due to income inequality
Thus, many measures have been put in place to help the lower-income groups and impose taxes on higher income groups.
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