Related Issue 1: To what extent should globalization shape identity?

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Your individual identity can be easy to describe or it may be very complex. Who you are can be connected to your community, your language, your values and beliefs—even to how you dress and the activities you prefer. Often people think of their individual identity as a matter of personal choice. When the influences of globalization in the twenty-first century are examined, you may find that global contact and connections can also influence your personal choices about who you are. Understanding the forces of globalization and how they shape who you are, both individually and collectively, is the focus of this section.

Key Terms:

Who you are may be shaped by the languages you use. The ideas and beliefs you learn from your family and community over generations can shape who you are. In a globalizing world the emerging communication and transportation technologies may also influence how you presently act, speak, and dress. The choices may appear limitless, but with those choices are also understandings that global contact and connections influence how unique identities are or will remain in the future.

belief: a fundamental view associated with religion, spirituality, or an understanding of the world that is held as truth

collective: related to members of a group that share common characteristics such as language, culture, and identity

community: a group that shares a connection to the same region or the land

forces of globalization: action or influence that drives the process of global contact and interdependence

globalization: a process by which citizens become more interdependent with increasing economic, political, and social contact with citizens beyond their border

individual: related to one person

identity: characteristics that distinguish the uniqueness of an individual or group

value: an idea or belief that is held as important

Reflection

This is a required activity to support your inquiry but is not graded.  Reflect on the following questions to guide your creation of the assignment below. 

• To what extent are these identities a reflection of who you are?
• In your view, which similarities are due to global contact and connections between different countries and diverse peoples?

Assignment

Globalization of Style

Expressions of identity hold complex meanings. They may be an expression of individual freedoms and tastes. They may express your collective understandings and your membership in a unique group. They are outward signs to people about who you are. Increased global contact can share who you and your community are to others, but they can also open your unique expressions to change. As a result, expressions of identity can evolve and identities can evolve in a globalizing world. You can embrace a universal identity or resist the erosion of your unique collective identity. Who you are now may not be the same as globalization increases in influence.