Who We Choose to Be

 After reading Chapter 6, “Issues of Subjectivity and Identity,” the pronoun “I” has a much larger meaning than just being a part of speech.  This pronoun represents how we assimilate into a particular culture, what values and beliefs we choose to have and it is our own self-identity.  Being at Juniata allows me to develop my own sense of that pronoun because I am able to live on my own and make my own decisions.  There are many different things that shape my self- identity but it is my social identity that changes.  My social identity changes because of either the situations that I am put into, or it is also shaped by the people I am with.  I am subjected to a different social identity every day of the week but my self-identity inside of me remains the same.  In this reading it says that we are not original but we are creative.  I agree with this statement because we all have creative thoughts and creative ways in which we do things, however the principle remains the same.  The example used in the reading was about dreams.  Everyone dreams, but each person has their own dream that is unique to them.  We all have a self and social identity, but the way we create each identity is unique to each individual.  I hope that after this class I am able to decide if I am a feminist or not.  I struggle with this as being a part of my social and self-identity because the “f” word is full of stereotypes and the concept, in my opinion, can be confusing to most people.

-Kelsea