Description of Cultural Identity
Today, more than 14 million people are living in the Republic of China. The most striking thing is that no two of them are alike, although it might seem so. Chinese people show a wide range of diversity in color, shape and size. Furthermore, they wear differently and hold ideas of beauty amongst other things. Despite these differences, there is a feeling of belonging amongst the Chinese people. Therefore, cultural identity can be described as an aspect of identity to a given ethnicity, social class, locality, nationality, religion, generation, or any kind of social group as part of self-perception and self-conception. However, the group must have its own distinct cultures, behaviors or practices. This way, cultural identity can be considered an individual characteristic and culture/ practices of an identical group.
The Chinese culture is very diverse. However, the most important elements of Chinese cultural identity include literature, visual arts, martial arts, architecture, ceramics, music, cuisine, and religion amongst other more. Amongst these elements, the Chinese are known worldwide to be strongly bound by their peculiar and skillful martial arts, ceramics and cuisine. According to Chen (2006), Chinese cultural values have greatly influenced their national identity and psychology. Traditionally, cultural values, which have strongly influenced Chinese people’s psyche over the past centuries, include benevolence, courtesy, loyalty, harmony, righteousness, wisdom, honesty, and filial piety (Harris, 2004). These identities have subsequently shaped up world-view and everyday life of Chinese people. For instance, they developed a peculiar way of giving courtesy to people. In addition, the Chinese people have achieved their cultural identity through clear and, at the same time, confident acceptance of oneself.
Cultural Identity in Context of Society
Every culture has a particular identity and China is no exception. The cultural identity of China is, however, influenced by some external forces that are not controllable by an individual. These predominantly include societal and cultural histories. Asian Americans have rich cultural histories despite the extensive exclusion of written records and their accounts in the American society (Takaki, 2000). Some of the societal forces that have directly influenced the Chinese cultural identity over the past years include the government, law, economy, schools, family, community, the media, and societal attitudes, among others. As explained by Dittmer (1993), ideas and thoughts of every person are shaped by culture and society even they have their own personality. In the society, people with whom individuals interact with in their everyday life are essential as they determine their true cultural identity. Yep (1998) highlights the significance of embracing one’s cultural identity by learning about national identity and family history.
Another obvious thing that has been shaping the Chinese cultural identity is gender. Gender as a concept is culturally constructed. Through gender, the society has been dictating what kind of job, dress, and lifestyle is suitable and acceptable by the Chinese people. Gender has a lot of influence in the Chinese lifestyle. They are intertwined with the mode of dressing. It has significantly influenced what to wear on what occasion and at what time. It has directly influenced the fashion industry. For instance, red and yellow are reserved color for the emperor. For several years, Chinese cultural identity has been characterized by some of the most diverse and colorful arrangements in their fashion industry. Traditional costumes have played significant roles in shaping the Chinese cultural identity. Throughout the history, the Chinese culture has been identified with clothes of basic features such as cross-collar tied with a sash or wrapping the right lapel as their attire. Gender also dictates how people look and how to socialize.
Society continues to shape the Chinese people on how they should behave, dress, and socialize. Since humans are social beings, their beliefs, knowledge as well as behavior are acquired from the social group especially where they live in. This tells how directly society influences and determines cultural identity. The Chinese have inherited their cultural identities from the discoveries, customs, and beliefs of their ancestors (Harris, 2004). These customs and beliefs have been gathered unaltered from generation to generation. This fact makes the society understand why a Chinese child naturally loves martial art. Economy has also played a significant role in shaping the Chinese cultural identity. In particular, the Chinese cultural identity revolves around ceramics due to their economic benefits. Through trade, people discovered the real economic benefits of ceramic and started majoring on it.
The media have also been a site of change and center of influence in the development of cultural identity. Peterson, Hayhoe and Lu (2001) illustrated that fundamentally, media is considered a site that is perpetuating ideologies and norms of a particular social class, community, or group of people. Throughout ages, the Chinese media has used several representations such as word, images, as well as persona or character to influence its cultural identity. In this way, it conveys construed values and ideas to the Chinese people. In particular, the Chinese media have played a significant role in imparting ideology, especially, those of Confucius, which became strong pillar of Chinese cultural identity. Media not only produce but also reflect what is already happening in the society. In essence, society helped establish and brand the Chinese cultural identity. It created an opportunity for every Chinese citizen to shape his or her own identity according to the overall national identity.
Cultural Identity and Equality / Inequality
Apart from society, Chinese cultural identity has also been created in the context of social equality and inequality. The major focus of social equality is to create fairness. In this case, all individuals can access and take part in the same opportunity without any kind of discrimination. Currently, equality is underpinned by the country’s legal framework. However, this was not the case a few centuries ago when Chinese were still discovering their cultural identity. In particular, laws have helped modify Chinese cultural identity in the equality context. These laws put statutory duties on communities, organization, as well as certain individuals to ensure that no one is disadvantaged in accessing opportunities. They have shaped the Chinese cultural identity to embrace charity and benevolence (Cushman & Wang, 2009).
Indigenous Chinese culture displayed a wide gender disparity in accessing opportunities. Long ago, men dominated women. They had the final say over many issues in the community. On the other hand, the indigenous Chinese women faced significant challenges due to barriers set by men. For examples, women were not allowed to participate in martial art. It was purely a reserve for men in the society. Men also controlled the economic activities of women. However, the emergence of the social and gender equality ideology changed this Chinese cultural identity. Initially, Chinese women were not getting full enjoyment of their human rights due to social disparities based of gender. They experienced multiple forms of discrimination such as lack of access to ancestral lands, education, as well as leadership.
In indigenous Chinese society, men and women were assigned different values and norms. Certain attached traditional norms such as liability and asset, dependent and breadwinner, purity and pollution, greatly segregated women from men. However, all these have changed a new cultural identity, and the Chinese people have adopted embrace social equality. There is a new outlook in the Chinese cultural identity: a culture that embraces and promotes both social and gender equality. Equality has played a significant role by emerging roles and responsibilities of both men and women. This has helped reduce the conflicting differences between men and women. The modern Chinese cultural identity is now viewed as superior thanks to these developments.
Now, many people across the globe approve of the Chinese cultural identity due to social equality that is being practiced everywhere across the land. Equality has made a difference to all Chinese people because as a strategy it reduces disparities that existed between men and women. It has ensured that gender perspectives are central to all activities of every person. It is with no doubt that social equality has empowered Chinese women to be custodians of beliefs, language and culture. This has been strengthened through their new status in the society. Furthermore, it has strengthened the roles of women in protection of biodiversity and the environment.
As explained by Liu (2004), the Chinese cultural identity also offers privileges and advantages over other culture because of the widely accepted and practiced social equality. In some cultures, especially in African states, women are still discriminated against in many ways. They are subjected to sexual harassment as well as domestic violence. The rising multiple consciousnesses amongst the Chinese people also makes its culture advantageous. Lastly, the modern cultural identity of the Chinese people has improved the cultural, health, political, economic, and educational status of the people.
References
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