9699 · 1.3
Social identity and change flashcards
Revision flashcards for Cambridge 9699 Social identity and change (syllabus 1.3). Flip, recall, then mark a real past-paper question.
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Ascribed identity?
Assigned at birth — e.g. sex, ethnicity, family status.
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Achieved identity?
Earned through effort — e.g. qualifications, occupation.
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Goffman — presentation of self?
Identity performed differently in front-stage/back-stage settings.
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Labelling theory?
Becker — deviant identity created through social reaction, not act itself.
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Beck — risk society?
Individuals construct biographies amid uncertainty — identity becomes a project.
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Hall — hybrid identities?
Globalisation produces new ethnic/cultural identities beyond fixed categories.
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What is 'hybrid identity'?
An identity that integrates elements from different cultural, ethnic, or social sources. For example, a 'Brasian' identity combines aspects of British and Asian culture. It challenges the idea of fixed, singular identities and is a key concept in understanding ethnicity in contemporary societies.
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Define 'crisis of masculinity'.
A concept, notably discussed by Mac an Ghaill, referring to the uncertainty and anxiety experienced by some men due to the decline of traditional male roles (e.g., the 'breadwinner') caused by de-industrialisation and the rise of feminism. This has led to a fragmentation of male identity.
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What is the 'individualisation thesis'?
Associated with sociologists like Beck and Giddens, this thesis argues that in late modernity, individuals are increasingly freed from traditional social structures (like class, family, religion) and must construct their own identities and life paths through individual choice. Identity becomes a 'reflexive project'.
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Explain Featherstone and Hepworth's concept of the 'mask of ageing'.
The idea that in a postmodern, consumer-driven society, individuals' internal sense of self (their identity) can become detached from their ageing bodies. They may feel 'young on the inside' while outwardly conforming to or resisting stereotypes of old age, using consumer goods to maintain a youthful identity.
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What is meant by 'symbolic consumption' in relation to identity?
The process where individuals use consumer goods and services not just for their practical function, but as symbols to construct and communicate their identity, lifestyle, and social status to others. This is central to postmodern views of identity formation, particularly regarding class.