Creation Of Identity

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First, As I read through the text book which introduced to me the concept of inter-cultural commutation within context of essentialism vs. non essentialism I found that myself, as an International student who has spent almost eight years far from my country, I am engaged to these concepts. As I read page 19, figure 3 which says:

“individuals or groups can create new identities and, indeed, create culture change.”

” cultural resources are used ephemerally to defend identity; here they are used to create the fabric

of identity.”

I found out since I am originally from Iran, A country with a strong Islamic background which many people are aware of it, when people realize I am an Iranian first thing they can guess is how religious I am but as part of reality fortunately or unfortunately young generation of Iranians are mostly against to religion. I have lived in East and West. For instance I spent five years staying in Malaysia where Muslim have a very good reputation in society and compare to Australia society whole the story is different. no one is judge by the way they are here, but in Iran, you are judge, specially by authorities based on who you are following and how much knowledge of Islam do you have, and in some cases people are detained and punished or removed from insurance and citizen basic needs because of their religion.

The fact that Iranian culture is born within hands of religion is a false statement but cultural values which are known for people around the world about Iran are having important roles to define the cultural background of an Iranian behavior and personality. Defining who and how is a real Iranians has become a real issue for all the young Iranians who are studying abroad. By the way the looks, foreigners usually call them as “westernized” which is not what really it is. Iranians are trying by avoiding some of their cultural values make themselves to be capable of adopting to any type of environment wither the culture is same as them or is not. This costing them to forget about their own traditional values and turn to new people who are as if having a same culture in the new environment which they are living in.

What I learnt from life and  the text book is that the fact of being non essentialism can be a solution to solve issues, however it seems that being non essentialism we should leave behind some of cultural values that we own but it may solve many problems.

I believe in Non essentials more than essentials as I have experienced it myself. I have decided to describe it in my essay more that how it can be advantageous more than being essentialism. not only for my Race but for any people who are immigrate or studying abroad. I have watched a movie called “Bend Like Beckham” which is all about Culture to culture and the role of  traditionalism ( defined as Essentialism ) and role non essentialism in everyday life of people. the movie is about an Indian woman from a traditional family who is trying to push her values as far as western females can which is a taboo for her family (in their culture) and its against to roles of female in an Indian family. She is trying to communicate  with a British girl who is completely from a different culture to change her cultural values.

It is true that in our generation globalization have a very vast influence on people’s life . improved education and commutations are facts that seems are improving and establishing more stronger commutation links among people of all over the world but the truth is still many people from aspect of  culture or politically are afraid of showing who really are or who they can be even. This is still in hands of globalization which seems it has its own harmful disadvantageous.

I think this text is very meaningful in my essay about international students and their identity among groups:

“We are all, as individuals, members of a vast number of different cultural groups (Table 1 cell viii), and hence have a multiplicity of identities.”

I learned most of the definition of culture to culture is about the groups that people are belong, big and small group from family to social groups and so on which can define an individual’s personality within concept of essentialisms or non essentials.

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