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Diversity and Self-Care Assessment
Student’s Name
University
Course
Professor
Due Date
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While the concept of identity often appears simple, it is a complex and fluid phenomenon that
necessitates exhaustive focus to be well understood. Identity can be defined as an individual’s
sense of self, established by their distinctive affiliations, characteristics, and social roles. It is
essentially who we perceive ourselves as individuals, how others may view or label us, and as
members of social groups. Specific components of one's identity may remain the same
throughout life. Alternatively, other aspects of a person’s identity tend to be fluid and transform
as one develops from childhood, where caregivers predominantly influence them through
adolescence and into adulthood. As adults, individuals tend to conform to particular identities,
prioritizing some, focusing less on some, having a desire to learn some, and establishing those
that significantly influence their self-perception and others' perception of them. This paper
profoundly discusses my identities, elucidating those I often and occasionally think about, ones I
would like to learn about, those that substantially affect my self-perception, and how others
perceive me.
Identities I think about most often
The primary identities I think about often are gender and sexuality. Gender essentially refers to
the trains of girls, boys, men, and women, which are socially constructed. According to the
World Health Organization (2019), it encompasses roles, conducts, and norms connected with
being a woman, girl, boy, or man, as well as the connections with one another. I often think
about gender as it affects my daily existence. I often think about this identity due to the wide-
ranging positives, negatives, conceptions, and myths it is associated with. I take significant pride
in womanhood. It has made me stronger, taught me ways of protecting myself, and ascertaining
that I get respect from peers.
Alternatively, I have always contemplated the beliefs associated with being a woman. As a
female, I am viewed differently and get different treatment than men from childhood. While
getting different treatment from the opposite gender is not necessarily harmful, I have often been
intrigued by the perception that specific roles are set aside for precise genders. For instance, little
actions such as not being expected to pay for anything with a man or holding doors open because
these are cultured have always captivated me. Further, I regularly think about gender inequality,
a primary concern locally, nationally, and globally. While this concern affects both men and
women, it has often been associated with the latter and has had detrimental impacts on their
lives. The idea that I may miss out on an opportunity or be viewed differently sorely because of
my gender is beyond belief. I often think about how I, and those associated with my gender, can
develop effective strategies to change such conceptions.
Sexuality relates to one's sexual feelings, viewpoints, attractions, and behavior towards other
individuals. A person’s sexuality essentially describes their feelings toward an individual they
like or are attracted to (Hall, 2019). As a heterosexual, I have often thought of the significance of
identifying and respecting my sexual orientation, as well as that of other individuals. The
transformations of sexual preferences in the modern world have become an issue of concern as
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all social classes have not embraced them. The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, or
Questioning community (LGBTQIA) has mainly witnessed substantial discrimination based on
how they communicate, appear and select romantic relationship preferences. This, I think, is
unfair and disrespectful. While societies may be uncomfortable with the current wide-ranging
sexual orientations due to their complexity, I believe we should learn to respect and be open to
all sexual orientations by offering support as family, friends, and communities to foster a safer
and highly inclusive society.
Identities you think about least often
Language and age are my slightest thoughts about identities. Language is an essential part of life
as it allows us to communicate and is among the first things we learn as toddlers. However, as an
African American, language has never been singular. According to Alshihry (2024), being
brought up with a heritage and dominant language creates a world of two different voices. Even
though this tends to generate doubts, conflicts, and insecurities (Alshihry, 2024), I never consider
language a significant defining factor.
Furthermore, while language is essential for communication, it should not be employed to divide
communities or exclude one for the community. Also, language is acquired; hence, all
individuals with adequate guidance, materials, and experiences can obtain such knowledge.
Despite it being accurate that language barriers are challenging for others, particularly those
without a proper understanding of English, this may also be obtained through time.
Alternatively, I barely think about age because it is just a number that should not describe who
we are and what we seek to become. The concept of age is defined as the inner experience of
one's age and aging process. I am unique with personal talents, dreams, and passion, which my
age should not hinder. A primary misconception about aging is that while one becomes older,
they are less treasured and less proficient. However, this is entirely inaccurate. While becoming
older changes our minds and bodies, it also leads to experience, wisdom, and perspective. Such
critical assets help us attain our aims and live fulfilling lives. Furthermore, I do not often think
about age because it is a societal construct; it is a method used to measure time and has little to
do with ourselves. My age does not describe my intelligence, creativity, or ability to learn new
aspects because everyone can grow and transform despite their age. The most critical part is that
I still have life, and despite mistakes slowing me down, I have significant opportunities to grow
and learn.
Personal Identities I Would Like to Learn More About
I want to learn more about my spirituality. While I am a Christian, I am not actively religious.
This inactiveness has been prompted by wide-ranging commitment, which, although important,
could have benefited from a notable level of spirituality. There are various reasons I would like
to familiarize myself with this identity. These reasons are primarily based on the benefits of
strengthening this identity. For instance, creating a relationship with God would give my life
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more profound meaning. I will be able to take comfort in knowing that God loves and cares
about me regardless of what happens in my life. Further, I will also have a sense of calm and
peace, which may be tough to obtain through different means (Aslamzai & Sajid, 2021). This
relationship will also help me face my fears and overcome challenges.
Moreover, I desire to learn more about religion because it will offer me a sense of purpose.
Typically, religion educates people about the world and their place in it while providing
guidance they can regularly implement. By studying religious texts and knowing more about my
views, I can become highly thoughtful and deliberate about how I live my life and my choices.
Thoroughly examining the aspects of religion and reflecting on my faith could also offer me a
sense of purpose and make my life highly meaningful. I will freely look into religion for answers
to questions I face throughout life and gain an understanding of direction and purpose.
Thirdly, creating a relationship with God will also enable me to make sense of the challenges in
life. Strengthened spirituality will offer me support and guidance, especially during tough times.
I can lean to God for assistance and advice when encountering challenging problems in search of
answers. Knowing God is with me in every step will give me much-needed comfort and support
in tough times. I will also use the strength and wisdom provided by God to overcome the
numerous challenges hindering my happiness and success (Aslamzai & Sajid, 2021). Finally, I
am keen on learning more about this identity as it will enhance my connection with others. As an
active Christian, I will connect with others, holding a shared belief system and community. The
community will also offer me encouragement and support to feel highly connected.
Identities that have the most substantial effect on how I perceive myself
The primary identities that significantly impact my self-perception are gender and socio-
economic status. Presently, I view being a woman as an asset instead of an oppressed person
because of her gender. Women tend to have various vital abilities, often underscored in society,
yet play an enormous part in defining who they are as individuals. For instance, females, by
nature, are highly collaborative and identify that lifting one another is the most effective method
of prospering. Such a natural female characteristic shapes my self-perception of being
cooperative. I work well with others to attain a similar goal. Further, I am also good at building
relations, tackling conflicts, and establishing an environment where all persons feel respected
and included.
In addition, I also perceive myself as highly productive, partially because of the ability to multi-
task, often associated with women. Even though women are not inherently superior at multi-
tasking, the stereotypes and cultural norms have made them highly effective at it. Instead, multi-
tasking is based on the feeling that, as women, we lack a choice but to function simultaneously,
ultimately being efficient at it. Further, despite this only being a stereotype, the practice has
massively benefited me as an adult at home and work. For instance, I do cognitive offloading at
home by keeping calendars, making lists, setting reminders, and developing my life around being
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highly and constantly productive. I can simultaneously work on multiple projects effectively and
with fewer errors at my workplace. It is worth noting that other female characteristics, such as
sharing feelings, open affection, and women chats, have also shaped my nature as a caring
person.
Correspondingly, my socio-economic status also strongly affects how I perceive myself. Being a
part of the upper working class shapes my self-perception as a self-assured and self-motivated
woman. Even though attaching a sense of worth to external things is unhealthy, humans find
separating these from our self-esteem challenging. Further, Krauss & Orth (2021) established
that an individual's self-esteem is significantly impacted by their occupation and efficiency.
Working within the upper class has massively enhanced my self-esteem, shaping me as a self-
assured individual.
Further, I also perceive myself as an action taker, a trait significantly impacted by my job status.
Action takers constantly search for things to learn and offer themselves an advantage. Working
in a highly competitive and stimulating job has made me proactive and open to new ideas. It
relates to my locus of control, which is the extent to which I have control over the happenings in
my life. I control what happens in my life and am always responsible for what I do. This ability
has been prompted by my occupation’s competitiveness and desire to succeed. Further, I have
also been able to implement this trait in other aspects of life, ultimately shaping myself as a
proactive individual. It is worth noting that being a member of the upper working class has also
shaped me as a self-disciplined individual. Working in this category has influenced my
dutifulness, reliability, and daily routine. Further, the time I get up, the types of clothes I wear, as
well as other essential lifestyle factors have been dictated by my social-economic status. I adhere
strictly to particular lifestyle choices because of my occupation and what it represents in society.
Identities that have the most significant effect on how others perceive me
While it should not be a deciding factor, ethnicity significantly affects how others perceive me.
There are wide-ranging reasons people tend to judge people based on ethnicity. I believe that
people tend to occasionally view me as illogical or overbearing due to the “existing angry black
woman stereotype," which has penetrated numerous segments of American culture, such as the
workspace. According to Motro et al. (2022), people tend to instantaneously view African
American women as overbearing, bitter, and illogical, primarily in workplaces, which hinders
them from realizing their ultimate potential. Even though this is not a daily experience from a
personal standpoint, ethnicity is an undesirable factor affecting how others perceive
me.
My socio-economic status is another noteworthy factor that significantly affects how others
perceive me. People view me as disciplined, dedicated, and decisive, often associated with the
upper-class working category. Mainly, people perceive individuals working within my industry
and occupying similar positions as possessing such characteristics. My family and friends have
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often described me with such characteristics, crediting my occupation and socio-economic status
as evidence of possessing these traits.
In conclusion, this paper has widely discussed my identities and elucidated those I often and
occasionally think about, ones I would like to learn about, those that substantially affect my self-
perception, as well as how others perceive me. Personally, Identities such as gender and
sexuality have been thought-provoking due to their complexity and uniqueness. Alternatively,
although essential, language and age have been less thought-provoking because of their candid
nature. I intend to know more about my spirituality as it will significantly benefit my life. Gender
and socio-economic status affect my self-perception, and ethnicity and socio-economic status
affect how others perceive me. Understanding our identities is pivotal because these are crucial
components that help individuals define, understand, and improve their lives.
References
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Alshihry, M. A. (2024). Heritage Language Maintenance Among Immigrant Youth: Factors
Influencing Proficiency and Identity.BJournal of Language Teaching and
Research,B15(2), 500–508. https://doi.org/10.17507/jltr.1502.18
Aslamzai, M., & Sajid, S. A. (2021). The Positive Impact of Spirituality on Humanity and
Health: An Analytic Article Review.BAmerican Journal of Applied Sciences,B18(1), 24–
32. https://doi.org/10.3844/ajassp.2021.24.32
Hall, W. J. (2019). Sexual Orientation.BEncyclopedia of Social Work.
https://doi.org/10.1093/acrefore/9780199975839.013.1271
Krauss, S., & Orth, U. (2021). Work Experiences and Self-Esteem Development: A Meta-
Analysis of Longitudinal Studies. European Journal of Personality,B36(6),
089020702110271. Sagepub. https://doi.org/10.1177/08902070211027142
Motro, D., Evans, J. B., Ellis, A. P. J., & Benson III, L. (2022, January 31).BThe “Angry Black
Woman” Stereotype at Work. Harvard Business Review. https://hbr.org/2022/01/the-
angry-black-woman-stereotype-at-work
World Health Organization. (2019).BGender and health. World Health Organization.
https://www.who.int/health-topics/gender#tab=tab_1
