IT IS A GROUP DISCUSSION AND WE NEED TO COMMENT ON EACH OTHER'S POST. WE GET GRADED ON THE QUALITY OF POST. KINDLY PROVIDE A CRITIQUE ON MY COLLEAGUE'S POST MENTIONED BELOW AND KINDLY PROVIDE A REFERENCE AS WELL (APA CITATION):

QUESTION:To what extent are our identities determined for us (by things like where we grew up, how we were raised, what we look like, etc.) and to what extent can we control our own identities?

MY COLLEAGUE'S ANSWER:

Hi everyone,

This topic was quite interesting this week.

To a certain extent, our identities are determined for us and to a certain extent, we can control our own identities.

Factors determined for us would be our environmental and cultural upbringings, along with our genetics and appearance. Our environmental and cultural upbringings would be where we grew up, what normality is, learned our cultural values and beliefs of family and our community. Factors determined for us would be our environmental and cultural upbringings, along with our genetics and appearance. Genetics and appearance are also factors that determine for us as our genetics makes up a key role in determining our physical appearances. This can influence how others perceive us and categorize us. This is out of our control as we are not capable of choosing who our families or parents are going to be.

Factors in which we can control our own identities would be our own personal values and beliefs, education and experiences, personal choices, and interpersonal relationships. As a person, we can develop and choose our own values, beliefs, and worldview as we age. Our identity can be shaped by our morals and ethical principles we adopt over time. Education and experiences that we are exposed to can shape our identity. We can choose what our educational path will be, what experiences we want to be part of, and this can influence who we become as people. Interpersonal relationships are out of our own control by being able to associate with the people we choose to associate with. We can also determine how we will allow those relationships to influence us and change us as a person. Personal choices can shape our identities as we are able to choose our career paths, hobbies, way of living and daily behaviors which can influence how you spend your time and how you are as a person.

Thank you,

References:

Fouberg, E., Murphy, A., & De Blij, H. (2015). Chapter 5: Identity: Race, ethnicity, gender, and sexuality. InHuman geography: People, place, and culture(11th ed.). John Wiley & Sons.https://wayne.instructure.com/files/3139995/download?download_frd=1&verifier=gwB3RLhMGLERH78iRYmSHwZlPRaxcWRTNEuB3cGL