UNIT 1: IDENTITY AND IDEOLOGY

Now, consider the following statements regarding certain beliefs and values:

• Aboriginal people have more respect for the land than Canadians of other ethnic backgrounds.
• A woman is meant-both physically and psychologically-to be a wife and mother.
• Poor people live in poverty because they do not work hard enough.
• Individuals cannot be held responsible for their actions because they act as a result of their upbringing and genetics.
• A family consists of a man, a woman, and one or more children.

Statements such as these are assumptions. They are believed by people although they cannot be proven. In fact, the statements above can be considered ideological assumptions because they are based on more than a simple generalization, they are based on fundamental ideas about the nature of humanity and society.

Many people take for granted their core beliefs about how the world works. The problem with these assumptions is that they may not have been tested or examined in comparison to others.


In the remainder of this section, you will explore what influences your beliefs and values, which form the foundation of your personal ideology. By reflecting upon your own assumptions, hopefully you will become more aware of what influences other people's beliefs and actions.