What do we mean by identity?

Identity is a concept referring to how we see and express ourselves, and how others perceive us.
Your identity incorporates characteristics that make you unique, such as personality traits, values, beliefs, cultural background, experiences, and roles in life.
Understand that identity is plural and changing. Individuals often have many identities at once, encompassing many roles or facets of their selfhood. These identities can change over time.
Know that self-perception is a significant part of identity, defining how we view ourselves and how we believe others perceive us.
Remember that social interaction is a key influence on identity, as identities are shaped and developed in relation to other people.
Consider cultural identity, the sense of belonging to a social group with shared traditions, languages, rituals, norms, and patterns of behavior.
Understand that national identity is one’s affinity with a certain nation, often due to shared language, culture, or history.

Grasp the role of gender identity, your personal sense of your gender, which may align with or differ from the sex you were assigned at birth.
Consider the impact of sexual identity, encompassing how individuals identify in terms of their sexual orientation.
Understand ethnic identity, which refers to the ethnic group or groups an individual identifies with, often based on common racial, ancestral, cultural, or national experiences.

Know that identity is influenced by society’s attitudes and stereotypes, which can have significant impact on how we define our self and others.
Consider discrimination and its effect on identity, such as negative bias or treatment based on an individual’s identity, including race, gender, religion, nationality, sexuality, etc.
Understand social mobility, the ability to move up or down in societal status or wealth, and its impact on a person’s identity.
Acknowledge the importance of digital identity, how we present ourselves and interact online, including social media, and its increasing significance in the modern world.
Recognize that intersectionality plays a crucial role in identities, as individuals can have several overlapping identities, which combined, can influence their experience of the world.