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Ideological Deconstruction Paper

My Cultural Identity

Jake Clark

EDUC 524
Professor Mendez
Oct 8th, 2017
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As a future educator, I find that being able to look at my own personal

cultural identity is important. Our Cultural Lens is shaped by all of the factors that

make us who we are today. They have been shaping, growing, and transforming

throughout our lives, and will continue to shift throughout our lives. However, some

of the cultural identities we have for ourselves were not socialized, but were

inherently passed down through genetics. Our race, ethnicity, and gender are all

part of our cultural identity, but we do not shape these.

As far as my race goes, I identify as being White or Caucasian. The ethnicity

of my familys history, however, is not as cut and dry. My Great-Great Grandmother

was a direct descendant of an Indian Tribe. My Great Grandfather was full blood

Polish and immigrated to the United States to fight in World War 2. On the other

side of my extended family we have lineage back to the Irish. To me, these are all

parts that make me who I am, however before this question of ethnicity was brought

up, I could not have identified them. I, at 22 years old, did not actually know my

familys historical ethnicities that created me as a person today. I have always just

identified as a Caucasian and never with that of my families history.

It is interesting to think about why, up until this point, I had never attempted

to associate with any other groups other than Caucasian or White. I grew up in a

community where being White was the normal part of the culture. Ethnic minorities

we never really discussed much to me as a child growing up. I learned about ethnic

minorities groups growing up in school, such as the numerous ethnicities that have

immigrated to the United States, but I dont recall every assessing what ethic group I

would have belonged to. To me, this just shows how the culture of my community
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socialized me into not caring about any of my peers ethnicities. Something that did

make a difference in the community I grew up in was a persons race.

Diversity was not a very abundant element to the middle class society I grew

up in on the far South Side of Indianapolis. Diversity was not something that I was

fully immersed in until I became a college student at University of Indianapolis.

Growing up throughout my entire grade school experience in Center Grove, 99% of

the students I attended school with would have identified as Caucasian. As I think

back to my early childhood experience in K-5 schooling, I really do not recall having

any classmates of a different race in my classes. It is not until High school that I can

recall of any peers having a different race than mine.

Race in my family has been historically a bit of a touchy topic. I would

certainly say that I have grown to be a much more free minded thinker than that of

the vast majority of my Fathers side of the family. My grandparents both had grown

up in Virginia on a tobacco manufacturing farms. My grandmother grew up on a

farm that had a long running lineage back to her ancestors at the time on Slavery.

My grandmother told me stories about the house she grew up in with 16 brothers

and sisters. Hate was something that was socialized into all of her siblings including

herself. I never met a woman with such strong words to anyone, but especially to

anyone of a particular race. I can recall many memories of my late grandmother,

when she would swear up and down curing about how lazy people were because of

their race or skin color.

It was very interesting to see how her socialization as child affected her into

her late adulthood. I was obliviously not old enough to have a full grasp as to what
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she was saying about certain people, but I remember my mother telling me not to

listen to the things she said. That was often a topic of debate when I was a child. My

mother did not want me to be around people who spoke such hate, but I do have to

say that after she passed away, the whole dads family seemed to have shifted into

starting to think about racial difference differently. When we are together for family

gatherings, people can talk about whatever they want now which is pretty cool to be

able to do without fear of being yelled at for being current with our thinking.

A big topic surround race that I have had to grow up more personally with is

my father. His socialization as a child is obviously on that had pretty deep roots of

racism. I can certainly say that for me, since becoming an adult and going to school,

it is a topic of hot debate still in our house. My dad has slowly been making a shift in

his own personal identities that have allowed him to start to see the world a lot

differently. Since I grew up in a predominantly white community, diversity was not

a huge part of my life up until college. There was some exposure in High School, but

it came in a few ways that were less conventional than going to classes with student

who had different races than mine. There were a few students that were different

races, but I feel as if we looked upon them as being white. They conformed to our

social norms and didnt act any differently. Their socializations were certainly

different than mine.

One part of my personal identity that helped shape my outlook on people of

other races was being part of Show Choir. I was able to spend 4 years competing in

Show Choir throughout the entire state of Indiana, but also throughout most of the

Midwest and some other regions of the United States as well. I was able to finally see
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and interact with students who had a different race than mine, and that was

something I always liked to do. It was always so fascinating talking to people of all

races from other school when we went to Show Choir competitions. Unlike the

majority of the other school that would compete, we only had two members that

identified as not being white out of a group of forty-two members. It is very

interesting to think about the way other groups may have perceived us in this

manor. One of the major topics that were always brought up in almost every

conversation with students from other schools was our socioeconomic status. There

was a preconceived stigma that always seemed to follow me in regards to this.

Socioeconomic status certainly shapes and defines who we are as people and

how people perceive u as well. Something that has always seemed to be a part of my

culture when I tell them where I am from is money. It is one of the most reoccurring

themes in conversations that I have with people in regards to my childhood

upbringing. It is even soothing that I feel is perpetuated from my own family

members as well. Center Grove is known for being a very affluent community and

this stigma certainly has followed me in my life. One of the first things I feel that a lot

of people will ask you when they first meet you is where did you grow up or where

did you go to school? The reaction is usually the same in being that follow up

questions are usually tailored to ask questions about how rich my family is. This is a

perceived ideology that I have faced from many people, even after college.

I grew up an only child, having a half brother that never really came around.

School was always important to me, as my parents had instilled that schools was the

top priority. I grew up in a pretty average Middle Class home with three bedrooms
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in a neighborhood in the suburbs. Neither of my parents went to college, but my dad

has always been self employed and had his own company. My mom is an accountant.

They always wanted me to have the best education, so when we moved, it was

always important to my parents that I continue to go to school in Center Grove. In

comparison to many of my friends that went to Center Grove, I was not the lowest

student socioeconomically but I was certainly not the top either. They have always

been the people who have said that you must work for what you want. They wanted

me to go to college so I could make a better life for myself. They have lived

comfortably and they want the same for me in my adulthood. It is something that is

worked for and one simply does not let themselves feel like the deserve things

because others have them.

Religion was something that was not particularly important to my family

growing up. My dad would often tell me stories of how his mother forced it upon

him and his siblings as a child. He had to spend multiple days a week at church

helping to clean and take care of the church. He hated going and I can recall many of

time him telling me this as a child. My mother didnt have much religious influence

in her life because her mother grew up in Catholic school and was traumatized so

much that she decided to no longer identify as a catholic. Religion to me was always

an option. My parents didnt care if I wanted to go to church with my friends. They

allowed me to shape and build my own perspective on religion. I have gone to

catholic mass with my best friend, and I have gone to many other churches with

various backgrounds in religion, but still to this day, religion is not really a factor of

me as person.
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Something that has affected me and shapes my personal ideologies is my

sexual orientation. All throughout my childhood, there was a sexual orientation that

was almost perceived of me. I was bullied and teased as a child because I had a more

feminine voice that that of my other male peers. I recall back to elementary school

where I was first bullied in fourth grade. People had always called me fat and that

was just what it was, but a new topic was brought to light for other students to point

out. I was taunted and teased being called gay from Fourth grade all the way

through High School. There was no questions asked of me as to whether this was

true of not, but it was a reoccurring subject of discussion. It got pretty bad. I had to

seek out help from my counselors in elementary school to be able to talk through

my anger and frustrations that surrounded the constant bullying.

When I became a middle school student, it only got worse. I was interested in

choir, art and theater; not sports. I primarily associated with females and had a lot of

female friends. I had some male friends, but not as many. I came upon a pretty dark

time in my schooling experience as I navigated trough my middle school experience.

Academics became secondary to me. I became pretty socially involved, but not with

the right group of people. I was getting in trouble for fighting, acting out in class,

being disrespectful, and not doing my schoolwork. I confided in my friend group

about any issues I had and often it surrounded a certain person who had said

something to me that made me upset. My friends didnt like seeing me upset and

often would act upon my problems for me. It wasnt until I had gotten suspended

almost seven times in three years that I decided it was time to change. The path I

was heading down was not the path for me.

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Since then, I completed schooling in Center Grove, obtained my Associates

Degree in General Studies 3 weeks before I walked for my High Scholl Diploma.

School was where I was able to make a connection. I had a great mentor teacher

who has become my inspiration everyday that I continue to pursue my degree in

Teaching. I have been privileged to be able to have the support of my mentor all

throughout college. The guiding words of my high school English teacher are still

guiding me through my young adulthood.

Being a White male has certainly had its impact on me as a person growing

up. I never faced racism as a problem since I grew up in a primarily all White

community. I also feel the society doesnt not have an overwhelming socialization

towards Caucasians. As a White male, I feel that I have certainly had an easier

upbringing than that of what a person of color may have experience in my

community growing up. I have been privileged to be able to associate with the

predominate Race in the United States. I experience it daily, however it may not

always be so prevalent to me. As a future Teacher, I must be able to see how some

students may have different experiences socially from being a different race and I

must understand how that can impact them.

My past certainly shapes and defines who I am as a person today, but I would

certainly say that the last few years has allowed me to start to actually discover who

I am as a person. As a future educator, I must be able to look past my own cultural

lenses and not pass judgment onto my students. I fell that I will be able to look at my

student s and understand their difference, but not judge them for what they are.

Diversity is something that I have cherished from the moment I first encountered it
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at University of Indianapolis. I encountered people from all different walks of life,

whether the difference be religion or race, I have been able to learn from these

encounters. Each person had their own story, and as a teacher I plan to help write

my students life experiences in a positive manor. It is important that I, as a teacher,

do not pass any judgment onto my students. I am there to be a person of inspiration.

I want my students to be able to feel as if I am their own mentor. I must always ask,

and not assume. I have to be the most positive role model in the students lives. I will

be all of this.

CATEGORY
31 34 points 27 30 points
STUDENT Student describes
IDENTITY identity by including four
to six examples on how
race, gender, social class,
privilege, religion, etc.
influence their self-text.
Descriptions illustrate
how ideologies manifest
themselves.
ANALYTICAL Student makes logical
and excellent
connections to how the
identity was constructed
by providing four to six
examples of the impact
of historical events,
group norms, family
experiences, and
relationships on their
self-text.
EDUCATIONAL More than four
IMPLICATIONS examples and terms and
course concepts are
employed to
demonstrate an
excellent understanding
of the implications of
their identity for
teaching, learning, and
relating to others.
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1 22 points SCORE
23 26 points
Student describes Student describes Paper reflects a weak or
identity by including identity by including unclear description of
three examples of how one to two examples student's identity.
race, gender, social of how race, gender, Student either does not
class, privilege, social class, address the impact of
religion, etc. influence privilege, religion, race, gender, social
their self-text. etc. influence their class, etc. on their self-
Descriptions illustrate self-text. text or does not provide
how ideologies Descriptions examples to illustrate
manifest themselves. illustrate how how the ideologies
ideologies manifest manifest themselves.
themselves
Student makes logical Student makes fair Student either makes
and good connections connections to how no connections to how
to how the identity the identity was the identity was
was constructed by constructed by constructed or does not
providing three providing one to two provide examples of the
examples of the examples of the impact of historical
impact of historical impact of historical events, group norms,
events, group norms, events, group family experiences, and
family experiences, norms, family relationships on their
and relationships on experiences, and self-text.
their self-text. relationships on
their self-text.
Three to four One to two No examples, terms or
examples and terms examples and terms course concepts are
and course concepts and course concepts employed resulting in a
are employed to are employed to poor/weak
demonstrate a good demonstrate a fairly understanding of the
understanding of the good understanding implications of identity
implications of their of the implications for teaching, learning,
identity for teaching, of identity for and relating to others.
learning, and relating teaching, learning,
to others. and relating to
others.