IDENTITY IN THE NEW MILLENNIUM         

IDENTITY IN THE NEW MILLENNIUM                                               

Identity describes who or what we are. It bases on psychological, biological, or physical elements of life. Cultural identity represents our everyday behaviours related to how we speak, dress, move, or act based on our cultural environments. The need to have an identity is common to every human being. It is, therefore, essential to evaluate how popular cultures shape one’s identity based on who they are, in particular. We answer the questions of how different elements of culture, such as race, gender, sexuality, social class, influence our identity. We also evaluate how behaviors such as dress codes, modes of expression, or some actions tell of who we are.

In the past, cultural identification was based on defined gender roles. Cultural behaviors were categorized for the two genders, males and females. Aaron Devor, in his article “performing gender,” describes that being male or female dictated what expectations, based on their cultural standard. He goes on to explain that males were perceived to be masculine, aggressive, and egoistic, while females were seen to be passive, submissive, and less aggressive. Gender discrimination, however, viewed women as more dependent on males and males as responsible for women. Tasks were specifically assigned depending on the gender; for example, heavier tasks were termed masculine, while lighter tasks were left for the women to carry out.

Aaron Devor also explains the gender-based roles, behaviors, and attitudes of the previous generation. In our new millennium, things have taken a turn around. Though in some cultures, it is still debatable. Some developmental tasks, for instance, cooking and babysitting that were left to women only, are now done by both genders. Men are allowed to do house chores without being ridiculed or being termed as wrong. Women are also more independent than in previous centuries. As far as duties and labor distribution are concerned, gender discrimination is highly discouraged in this millennium. Gender biases became eliminated in places of work. ‘What a man can do, a woman can do better,’ is a phrase supporting such initiatives.

The millennium consists of multi-racial people. A person’s race gives the identity of where they come from. However, multinationalism allows people to intermarry from all regions. Our millennium embraces these changes. Therefore, it means that previous ideologies of the behaviour of people based on their race could be biased in some cases. It is because there are Asians in America, blacks in the UK, Indians in Africa, among other examples. Racial identification may only be left to tell of biological orientations, but not necessarily the cultural behaviours of a certain race. People of a certain race in this millennium might not be able to identify with the cultures of that race fully.

Evolution in the working environment from the colonial era brought about a shift in the status quo in society. Cultures of the master-slave workforce are long gone. Therefore, a significant change in workforce establishments that allow anyone to work at any qualified position has shifted mindsets. Our millennium enables equal opportunities to everyone, despite their gender race or sexual orientations. Hence social class and status quo are not determined by these factors, instead, by opportunities and ability to work hard to achieve one’s dreams. Anyone can be who they dream of. Different social classes can be made of multi-racial of varied sexual orientations.

Kevin Jennings wrote in the “American Dream “of how he had suppressed his real sexuality due to cultural expectations. He comprehensively takes us through his entire life history until he realized his sexual orientation was as crucial as achieving his American dream. His story illustrates the cultural behaviors that only allowed one’s identity limited to either female or male.

The previous centuries characterized behaviors such as using gestures, soft-spoken voices, or softness as feminine, they still are. However, the rise of intermixed sexual acts gave birth to the LGBT gender groups. Therefore, these behaviors can not entirely be left for females. Masculine behaviours do not also wholly lean on males only. It is common to find a male with a soft voice, as it is also easy to find a female with masculine features. There is the freedom to identify with any sexual orientation the best suits someone. Sexual biases are now a thing of the past; one can orient to without judgment.

Although some previous cultural behaviors such as dress codes are still evident, the majority of them have changed. Changes are visible in gender diversity, multi racism, integrated social classes, and diverse sexual orientations, among others. Cultural differences were brought upon by changes in beliefs, knowledge, and education. Actions of courageous people to take a stand and bring change played a role in our new millennial identities.

The authors comprehensively give the narrations on identities based on the cultures of the previous generations. Clear examples of the past behaviours associated with customs, we can compare and analyses changes that occurred when it comes to identification. The narration of well-articulated discussion of the article gives a persuasion to the reader.it is evident that most cultural identification has changed, as Aaron devours using the typical example of the “generation boomers” and “generation busters” scenarios.

In conclusion, culture shapes one’s identity, be it either by gender, race, status, or sexuality. All these are important when it comes to cultural identity and steer any changes that occur after that. However, since cultural behaviors are dynamic, how we identify ourselves has changed from previous generations. Our new millennium identification is fueled by knowledge, change in cultural beliefs, and heroic people who were ready to steer on that change.