question
Edited for MGT-322. Taken from:
The National Intergroup Dialogue Institute | The Program on Intergroup Relations | University of Michigan Adapted by The Ginsberg
Center for Community Service and Learning | University of Michigan, 2013
Project 1 Identity Exploration Project – 10 Points
Submit electronically to Blackboard
Each student will fill out and respond to the questions provided on the Social Identity Profile
below. After filling out the chart, write a two-page (double spaced) response addressing the
following questions:
Using Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s idea of a “single story” from the video The Danger of a Single Story, choose two different identities from your profile and describe a “single
story” about each that you have either learned growing up, seen used towards a group,
and/or have been ascribed to you. Focus on your knowledge of stereotypes with each
group and relate to the potential impact of those stereotypes on a workplace.
Please share which social identities in the profile stood out to you overall and why they stood out. Are there identities that relate to one another? How do they intersect?
How does filling out the social identity profile impact, shift, and/or relate to the way you think about yourself in the context of managing diversity?
Learning Objectives:
Students will gain knowledge and understanding of general social categories in contemporary U.S. culture.
Students will gain experience in self-reflection to help personally develop a deeper understanding of their social identities and how to relate their personal life to their
professional work in Human Resources.
Students will explore the complexities of having multiple social identities and the way social identities may relate.
Edited for MGT-322. Taken from:
The National Intergroup Dialogue Institute | The Program on Intergroup Relations | University of Michigan Adapted by The Ginsberg
Center for Community Service and Learning | University of Michigan, 2013
Grading Rubric
Excellent paper (A). Student deeply explores and reflects on the identities chosen and does not
provide surface responses. Student is able to connect personal experiences with professional
goals in managing and leading in diversity, social justice, and multiculturalism. Student is able
to make connections across identities and articulate the complexities of intersections. The paper
has very little or no grammar or spelling errors.
Very good paper (A-). Student deeply explores and reflects on the identities chosen and does not
provide surface responses. Student is able to connect personal experiences with professional
goals in managing and leading in diversity, social justice, and multiculturalism. Student is
unable to make connections across identities and articulate the complexities of intersections.
The paper has very little or no grammar or spelling errors.
Satisfactory paper (B). Student deeply explores and reflects on the identities chosen but does
provide some surface responses. Student is able to connect personal experiences with
professional goals in managing and leading in diversity, social justice, and multiculturalism.
Student is unable to make connections across identities and articulate the complexities of
intersections. The paper has some grammar or spelling errors.
Poor participation (C, D). Student completes paper but provides surface responses or only
tends to partially respond to questions. The paper lacks flow and has multiple grammar and
spelling errors.
Unacceptable paper (F). Student fails to turn in paper on time, provides very little or no insight
or reflection on the project. The paper has many grammar and spelling errors.
Edited for MGT-322. Taken from:
The National Intergroup Dialogue Institute | The Program on Intergroup Relations | University of Michigan Adapted by The Ginsberg
Center for Community Service and Learning | University of Michigan, 2013
Social Identity Groups
Social identity groups are based on the physical, social, and mental characteristics of individuals. They are
sometimes obvious and clear, sometimes not obvious and unclear, often self-claimed and frequently ascribed by
others. For example, racial groupings are often ascribed as well as self-claimed. Government, schools, and
employers often ask an individual to claim a racial identity group or simply ascribe one to an individual based
on visual perception. Other social identities are personally claimed but not often announced or easily visually
ascribed such as sexual orientation, religion, or disability status. For the purpose of this self-examination please
identify the memberships you claim or those ascribed to you. Below are examples of social identity groupings.
Examples (Feel free to use your own language for your identities.)
Gender Sex Race Woman, Man, Transgender, Gender Non-Conforming
Sex Intersex, Female, Male
Race Asian Pacific Islander, Native American, Latin@, Black, White, Bi/Multiracial
Ethnicity Irish, Chinese, Puerto Rican, Italian, Mohawk, Jewish, Guatemalan, Lebanese,
European-American
Sexual Orientation Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Pansexual, Heterosexual, Queer, Questioning, Asexual
Religion/Spirituality Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist, Jewish, Christian, Pagan, Agnostic,
Faith/Meaning Atheist, Secular Humanist
Social Class Poor, Working Class, Lower-Middle Class, Upper-Middle Class, Owning Class,
Ruling Class
Age Child, Young Adult, Middle-Age Adult, Elderly
Disability People with disabilities (cognitive, physical, emotional, etc.), Temporarily able-
bodied, Temporarily disabled
Nation(s) of Origin United States, Nigeria, Korea, Turkey, Argentina
and/or Citizenship
Tribal or Indigenous Mohawk, Aboriginal, Navajo, Santal
Affiliation
Body Size/ Type Fat, Person of Size, Thin
Target Group: social identity groups that are disenfranchised and exploited
Agent Group: social identity groups that hold unearned privileged in society
Edited for MGT-322. Taken from:
The National Intergroup Dialogue Institute | The Program on Intergroup Relations | University of Michigan Adapted by The Ginsberg Center for Community Service and Learning
| University of Michigan, 2013
Social Identity Profile List the group membership(s) you belong to – see above for examples or feel free to use your own language. Then put a box next to the social identity or identities
that reflects your best answer to the statements in the top column. Note: You WILL NOT be handing this section in. This is for your own information and process.
Social Identity Group
Membership
You are
most
aware of
You think
about
least
Have greatest
effect on how
others see you
(positive or
negative)
Have strongest
effect on how
you see
yourself as a
person
Have the
earliest
memories
of...
Have the most
impact on your
experience in
the community
Have the
experience of
privilege
(Agent)
Have the experience
of marginalization
(Target)
Gender
Sex
Race
Ethnicity
Sexual Orientation
Religion/
Spirituality/Faith/
Meaning
Social Class
Age
(Dis)Ability
Nation(s) of Origin
and/or Citizenship
Tribal or Indigenous
Affiliation
Body size/type
Additional
Edited for MGT-322. Taken from:
The National Intergroup Dialogue Institute | The Program on Intergroup Relations | University of Michigan Adapted by The Ginsberg Center for Community Service and Learning
| University of Michigan, 2013
Agent & Target Groups in the U.S.
SOCIAL IDENTITY
AGENT
TARGET
Ability Able Bodied Dis(abled)
Age 25-55
Children, Youth, Young adults, Aging
populations
Social Class Middle class, Upper Class
“Poor”, poverty, working class
Education Status College/Higher Education
High School, G.E.D., Middle School, No
formal schooling, First Generation College
Student
Gender Gender Conforming/Cisgender Gender Variant/Gender Non-
Conforming/Transgender
National Origin U.S. Born Outside of U.S., First generation,
Indigenous
Race White/Caucasian People of Color, Multi- racial, Biracial,
Trans- racial adoptees
Religion/Faith/
Spirituality/Meaning
Christianity
Judaism, Islam, Paganism, Buddhism, etc.
Sex Identity
Male Women/Female, Intersex, Transgender
Sexual Identity Heterosexual Gay, Lesbian, Bi/Pan/Omnisexual, Asexual,
Queer
Size
Size normative Full size, “Short”, “Fat”
Veteran Status Non-Veteran Veteran