Self and identity

Understanding various factors and how they impact on self and identity has become a crucial task for social scientists presently.  Self and identity of an individual is what forms a person’s culture. Currently the culture we live in is not predetermined but rather has been formed through the various artificial aspects that the globe has undergone. Owing to the increasing demographic, political, economic along with military relations on a global scale, multi-ethnicity is turning out to be an everyday life of individuals in numerous parts of the globe (Hermans, and Dimaggio 2). Thus, globalization continues to contribute to the changing cultural values of self and identity. The interaction among individual of varying cultures changes their self and identity to an average culture that results from the intermingling of the individuals.

 Educational factors additionally are contributing greatly to culture change globally, learners are traveling away from their countries where learn and practice new cultures. If the learner remained in their country of origin then they would have been involved in the new cultural change and experience. Tourism is among the biggest contributor to the impacts of self and globalization. As seen earlier globalization is the aspect of the world through improved contacts of countries becoming like a single city or village. People utilize the internet accessing data and contacting people from anywhere in the globe this improved contact changes the self and identity by socialization (Wagner, Holtz, and Kashima 5). Constant communication amongst people at home and in the Diaspora also has an impact on self and identity.  However, though globalization has broadened the scope towards positive and constructive change of self-identity it has additionally contributed to negative impacts. A good example includes the various bombings in major cities such as Washington DC, Madrid and London. These negative impacts happened in the midst of a globalizing world full of tensions clashes, racial discrimination and hate between people of varying nations.  The misunderstanding amongst individuals of varying backgrounds whom in history have never met is reason enough that globalization has played a big role in hostility and hate between them (Hermans, and Dimaggio 16). Thus, the interconnection through the internet, business practices and so on has resulted into a negative self and identity impact.

Additionally, the environment has suffered through on the hands of nature, the Tsunami for instance has led worldwide reverberation. This disaster was felt globally owing to the interconnectedness of the nations. Tourism was hardest hit thereby affecting the locals also visitors. Additionally, through the media and internet many people witnessed the disaster and this changed them both mentally and emotionally (Wagner, Holtz, and Kashima 11). The mental and psychological aspects f an individual comprise of self and identity. Thus these facts again confirm that self and identity are widely affected by manmade elements or aspects inclined to the human activities.   

Globalization has encouraged has been seen to encourage border crossings leading to both regional and international intercultural association through the exchange of values and ideas. This could be observed in another point of view whereby globalization through its supposed technological advancements results to widening and sharpening of customs or additionally fosters fresh opposition and hostility (Hermans, and Dimaggio 25). This is as opposed to localization, which encourages cooperation between people of the same region, and since they possess the same cultural practices hostility or misunderstanding do not exist. Localization has no negative effects on our cultures and more so our self and identity.  The economic boom has enabled many economies to become vibrant this has been accompanied by popular religions along with cults in East Asia. Thus the economic vibrancy has fostered negative aspects in East Asia such as the one mentioned above. Cults usually change the self and identity by replacing positive beliefs of an individual with bad ones. (Wagner, Holtz, and Kashima 35) Globalization has fueled uncertainty regarding the history of self and identity. This is because the present cultures are modified on a daily basis owing to varying contacts of other cultures in the globe. The same cultural uncertainty is translated to become an uncertainty towards the self and identity. Thus any thoughts and notions that self and identity is predetermined is greatly overridden by the numerous evidences of human steered future for self and identity.

Before watching the film of Hollywood stereotypes my view of effects of globalization towards other cultures was somewhat shallow. But the film opened my eyes to how much manmade and motivated factors contribute to stereotyping and misunderstanding of other peoples cultures thereby creating hostilities among them (Youtube). The stereotyping changes the self and identity of the both the American films makers and also the Arabs being stereotyped who are miles away. Through the internet and other forms of manmade media the film will affect those who watch it all over the globe.

Before watching, the film I thought that ‘mujahedeen’ is locally founded group.  However, after watching the regarding the origins and motives of ‘mujahedeen’ fighters, the American government through the motives of ruling Afghanistan along with parts of Asia founded and funded the ‘mujahedeen’ (Youtube). Humans kill humans due to their individual interests found these ills. The people of Afghanistan and Pakistan self and identity will be forever changed by these acts. They will at all times be hostile towards the US. These negative aspects are also caused by globalization.   

Works Cited

Hermans, Hubert, and Giancarlo Dimaggio. “Self, Identity, and Globalization in Times of Uncertainty:A Dialogical Analysis.” (2007): Web. Sept. 6.

Wagner, Wolfgang, Peter Holtz, and Yoshihisa Kashima. “Construction And Deconstruction Of Essence In Representing Social Groups: Identity Projects, Stereotyping, And Racism.” Journal for the Theory of Social behavior (2009): n. pag. Web. Sept. 6.

Youtube. “USA Is Funding Al-Qaeda (PROOF).” YouTube. N.p., 2012. Web. 6 Sept. 2014.

Youtube. “Reel Bad Arabs – How Hollywood Vilifies a People (Subtitulos en Español).” YouTube. N.p., 2012. Web. 6 Sept. 2014.