Chapter 5Identity, Race, Ethnicity, and Sexuality

Mikhail S

AP Human Geography

What is identity and how are identities constructed?Identity– “How we make sense of ourselves.”– Construct our own identities through

experiences, emotions, connections, and rejections

– “Snapshot” of who you are at the moment.

– Constantly changing, shifting, and forming.

Identity across various scales:

Local- member of a community, residents of a neighborhood.

Regional- residents of a state or major city.

National- residents of a country, members of national groups.

Global- residence of a continent, social state (i.e. wealthy, free).

What is identity and how are identities constructed?

What is identity and how are identities constructed?

Identifying Against– Define the “other” (people around you).– Define yourself as not the other.– Constructing you own image based on

people around you.

Race– Biologically, everyone is part of the

“human race.”– Based on society, difference is skin

color, eye color, hair color, etc. within the human race.

What is identity and how are identities constructed?

Racism– Superiority over another race.– Terminology is different throughout the

world.– Not biologically based, but of how

particular countries view skin color.

What is identity and how are identities constructed?

Residential Segregation– Degree to which two or more groups live

separately from one another, in different parts of the urban environment.

Invasion and Succession– Immigrants invade a specific

neighborhood and over time that neighborhood adapts itself to the culture of the invading group.

– Ex. Dominican culture replaced that of Jewish, African-American and Cuban residents of Washington Heights, New York.

What is identity and how are identities constructed?

How do places affect identity and how can we see identities in places?Ethnicity– An identity of people closely bounded,

even related, in a certain place over time.

– Ethnicity can change between scales and during certain events such as conflict.

How do places affect identity and how can we see identities in places?• Space- social relations that are

stretched out over an area.

• Place- particular rotations of those social relations as they come together in a particular location.

• Sense of Place- a state of mind in which a specific place has a cultural meaning.

How do places affect identity and how can we see identities in places?Gendered Areas– Places designed for men or women– Can be made from scratch (specific

building type).–Made from the way people use the place

or space.

Queer Theory- the study of heteronormatives and “queers” in society based on a commonly used negative word.

How do power relationships subjugate certain groups of people?Power Relations– Shape Cultural Landscape.– Subjugate entire groups of people into

following the majority groups ideals.– Limit the power and abilities of

minorities.

How do power relationships subjugate certain groups of people?Collecting Data– Statistics in governments often leave

certain groups unaccounted for due to segregation.

– Although statistics that are overlooked show minorities having a huge impact in society.

– Informal economic activities that are not tracked is often associated with a certain group.

How do power relationships subjugate certain groups of people?Dowry Deaths– During a marriage, the bride’s father

must give the grooms parents anything they ask for.

– If the father cannot meet the demands of the marriage agreement then the bride is either brutally punished or killed.