This semester, we studied 'Culture and Society', what culture is, how people perceive it, and how it is incorporated into society. We discussed human rights, and why we have them, what they seek to achieve. And we discussed the role they also have in shaping our society. This reflection seeks to be an explanation and a summary of all that I have learned this semester, simplified down into how I understand two specific themes. The first theme, is the one spoke of by my group for assignment 3, and is Expressing Identity. The second theme, is Human Rights.
In order to knowingly express your identity, you have to know what identity is, first. I agree with Lawler's (2008) definition of identity as being 'who you are', but I also think it is much bigger than that. Identity is who you are and what you are, how you perceive yourself. In our group presentation, we discussed how it was possible to have a national identity when we have a multicultural society. The answer is, that we all share our national identity. We're Kiwis/New Zealanders, and with that identification comes a sense of pride in our country, and our country's symbols, like Kiwiana. But we all have our own cultures and beliefs. It is our national identity that brings us together during sports events, and other entertainment events. And it is our multiculturalism which separates us at all other times. Neither of these things are bad, they're simply different.
For some, identity is those around them, their friends, and their family, who have shaped them into what and who they think they are. For others, identity is their culture or their religion, which has helped to shape their morals and their beliefs. For some people identity is very special talents or skills. For some people, identity is drunkenly being in the top 18th people in the world on Rock Band 3, to sing Breaking Benjamin's Breath.
Being able to express ones identity vaguely falls under the Universal Rights Act under articles 18 and 19. The Freedom of thought, conscience and religion, and the freedom of opinion and expression. Human Rights are a set of rights universally acknowledged as belonging to every human being on the planet. However, they are not set in law, and are, instead, viewed as being something to attain in the long run.
Human Rights are greatly important, as they should place everyone in the world on an even playing field, and allow all people the same freedoms. However, this does not appear to be the case at the current time, as poverty, homelessness, and discrimination are still heavily apparent in both our society within New Zealand, and the international community. It is apparent in society that while we aspire to achieve all Human Rights, we pick and choose which ones we will accept within our communities, often associating stigma and shame with things in order to make ourselves feel less guilt over dismissing something we should accept or acknowledge under the Human Rights Act. For example, mental illnesses are still heavily stigmatized despite Article 25, which states that all are entitled to medical care suited for an adequate state of living. We would never treat cancer patients the way we treat mentally ill, you would not tell a cancer patient to go and kill themselves, would you?
We also encounter discrimination when expressing our personal identities or cultural beliefs, values and practices if they vary from what is perceived to be the 'norm', to the point where we stereotype an entire culture as having one specific, extremist set of traits. For example, the idiotic and problematic belief that all Muslim people are terrorists.
Over the course of this semester, I've learned that human beings are really quite terrible at following through on plans, and that no matter how accepting a country/community may claim to be, there are still problematic tendencies hidden just out of sight, especially when it comes to identity or the following of Human Rights.
References:
Lawler, S. (2008). Identity: Sociological perspectives. Malden, MA.
United Nations. (n.d). The Declaration of Human Rights. Retrieved 29th May. From: http://www.un.org/en/documents/udhr/
