Identity

Identity is a rich word with many meanings and contexts it is used. It is a tricky word to understand so we spent some time today exploring it. The students analysed some different sentences that used it and then looked for common threads to come up with a definition. Here is an example of the analyzing.

Here are some of the students definitions:

• Your identity is the way you or your group act. It describes your personality. Your identity is what makes you and your group who they are.
• Identity is your personal information. It's something that divides you from everyone else.
• Identity is who you are. What makes you, you. (your looks, personality, history, background, roots).
• Identity is what you are recognised as. It is like your personality. It makes you yourself.
• Identity means your personal details or your countries culture.
• Identity is something that is part of you.
• Identity is the reputation of a person, place, or thing.
• A person or place can have an identity. An identity is what you are and what you do.
• Identity is something you own which makes you who you are.
• Identity can be a social, mental, physical, or emotional thing.

I am looking forward to more discussion around the above sentences and definitions. We will also look at our New Zealand identity. What makes us different from other cultures? What is our 'personality'?