Free Write of Identity

Megan Zaccario

English 1100

September 9, 2016

Professor Young

What is Identity?

            There are so many meanings to the word Identity.  What can it be?  People think it can be somebody’s language, race, occupation, gender, etc. What does identity mean to me?  I believe identity is a person’s culture.  Culture classifies people from the type of background they were born into and values they follow.  Gloria Anzaldua mentions how culture refers to a body of people and their history.  “As a culture, we call ourselves Spanish when referring to ourselves as a linguistic group and when copping out.  It is then we forget our predominant Indian genes” (Anzaldua 253).  Culture plays an important role when you begin to know an adult or child’s identity.

            Culture is a very big topic when it comes to a person’s status.  When I meeting somebody for the first time, I don’t assume what their culture is.  I ask them questions about their background or their family.  You can’t always assume an adult or child’s jut by their looks or behavior.  Some people may not understand a language like Spanish or Pachuco, but those languages are part of one’s culture.  Children and teenagers can speak two languages: one at home with their family and the other at school with friends or coworkers.  “My ‘home’ tongues are the languages I speak with my sister and brothers, with my friends.  They are the last five listed, with 6 and 7 being closest to my heart.  From school, the media, and job situations, I’ve picked up Standard and working-class English” (Anzaldua 246).  I believe many people feel they must always use their first language from their culture.  A woman like Gloria Anzaldua believes having a secret language may not be easy to comprehend.  “Pachuco is a language of rebellion, both against Standard Spanish and Standard English.  It is a secret language.  Adults of the culture and outsiders cannot understand it.  It is made up of slang words from both English and Spanish” (Anzaldua 248). 

When people are born into a culture, there can be many values and rules.  In some cultures, women aren’t allowed to have a voice.  Gloria Anzaldua will not allow that to happen in her culture.  “I will have my serpent’s tongue - my woman’s voice, my sexual voice.  I will overcome the tradition of silence” (Anzaldua 249).  I feel women should be entitled to stand up and speak for themselves.  I feel certain cultures aren’t fair, because some people aren’t allowed to express who they really are.  Women should be entitled to stand up and speak for themselves.  

A person’s identity can be defined in many descriptions.  Culture can be described as one’s language, rules, and/or values.  All cultures may be different, but they all share one thing: they tell you a story about a man, woman, and child.