Identity is defined as the self-image derived from socialization with family, gender, culture, ethnicity and groups. There are four keys to understanding identity: 1) family and gender socialization, 2) cultural-ethnic identity formation, 3) group membership and boundary crossing, and 4) ethnic-cultural identity change processes. Identity has both social and personal components, with social identities including cultural, gender, sexual orientation and other memberships, while personal identities are unique attributes that distinguish individuals.

1. Keys to understanding identity

2. Defining identity Identity is the reflective self-conception or self-image we derive from family, gender, cultural, ethnic and individual socialization.

3. The 4 keysFamily & Gender Socialization

4. Cultural-Ethnic Identity Formation

5. Group Membership: Boundary Crossing

6. Ethnic-Cultural Identity Change ProcessSocial identities vs. personal identity Social identities = cultural or ethnic membership identity, gender identity, sexual orientation identity, social class identity, age identity, disability identity or professional identity.Personal identities = include any unique attributes that we associate with our individual concept of self in comparison to others.

7. Family socialization

8. Gender Socialization Gender identity refers to the meanings and interpretations we hold concerning our self-images and expected other-images of femaleness and maleness.

9. Cultural identity conceptualization Cultural identity is the emotional significance we attach to our sense of belonging or affiliation with the larger culture.Value Content refers to the standards or expectations people use to make evaluations (e.g. individualism/collectivism)Cultural identity salience is the strength of the affiliation we fill with our larger cultureEthnic Identity Ethnic identity is “inherently a matter of ancestry, of beliefs about the origins of one’s forebears” (Alba, 1990, p. 37 as cited in Ting-Toomy & Chung, 2005).

10. Boundary CrossingEnculturation refers to the sustained primary socialization process of strangers in their original culture.

11. Boundary crossingWhen we are moving from our culture of origin to the to other cultural groups, we can experience multiple