Collier, Mary Jane - Theorizing Cultural Identifications

Question 1

What is Mary Jane Collier’s definition of cultural identity?

Answer 1

“Identification with and perceived acceptance into a group that has shared systems of symbols and meaning as well as norms/rules for conduct.”

Question 2

What personal experiences influenced Collier’s development of cultural identifications theory?

Answer 2

Her high school students showed her the privilege she previously couldn’t see, and her time at a Navajo reservation high school where she realized the curriculum was built through “white eyes.”

Question 3

How does Collier’s cultural identity theory address the complexity of identifications?

Answer 3

Cultural identities are not static but evolve over time and through interactions, relationships, and conflict, allowing individuals to align with certain groups while maintaining individuality.

Question 4

What are the two types of identity formation according to Collier?

Answer 4

Avowal, where individuals affirm their own identity, and ascription, where society assigns an identity to an individual.

Question 5

What is the significance of “salience” in cultural identity?

Answer 5

Salience refers to how noticeable or projected a person’s cultural identity is in a given context, varying over time, space, and interactions.

Question 6

What is “agency” in the context of Collier’s cultural identity theory?

Answer 6

Agency is the capacity of an individual to act independently and make free choices, though it can be constrained by factors like privilege and marginalization.

Question 7

What challenges did Collier identify with using labels or checkboxes to define cultural identity?

Answer 7

In her survey at California State University, she found that checkboxes were ineffective because people have multiple cultural backgrounds that can’t be captured by limited options.

Question 8

How do “avowal” and “ascription” interact in shaping cultural identity?

Answer 8

Even if an individual avows a certain identity, they may face pushback or constraints due to ascription, where society imposes an identity on them.

Question 9

What is the concept of “multivocality” in Collier’s theory?

Answer 9

Multivocality refers to the presence of multiple interpretations, meanings, or values within cultural identities, highlighting the diversity of experiences within a group.

Question 10

How does Collier’s theory address the impact of privilege on cultural identity?

Answer 10

She acknowledges that privilege can obscure one’s understanding of other cultural experiences, and that marginalized groups face greater risks and constraints in asserting their agency.

Question 11

What does Collier suggest about the relationship between identity and social interactions?

Answer 11

Cultural identity is negotiated in relationships, with one’s internal sense of identity being influenced by how it is received and acknowledged in interactions with others.

Question 12

What are the implications of not having official documentation, like a passport, on cultural identity, according to Collier?

Answer 12

Lacking formal documentation, such as Palestinians without passports, can complicate one’s ability to assert their identity, even if they strongly identify with a cultural group.

Question 13

What does Collier’s theory suggest about the influence of political and societal structures on cultural identities?

Answer 13

She emphasizes the resistance to dominant political structures, like patriarchy and whiteness, and how these systems impact the formation and recognition of cultural identities.

Question 14

How does Collier address the dynamic nature of cultural identity?

Answer 14

She posits that cultural identity is not fixed, but changes over time and through different contexts, influenced by social, political, and personal factors.

Question 15

What is the role of “content and relational aspects” in identity negotiation?

Answer 15

Identity negotiation occurs in interactions where the acceptance of one’s identity by others shapes the ongoing construction and affirmation of that identity.

Question 16

What does “salience” refer to in the context of cultural identity?

Answer 16

Salience is the degree to which a cultural identity is particularly noticed or projected in a situation. It varies based on context, space, time, and interactions.

Question 17

How can cultural identity be formed according to Mary Jane Collier’s theory?

Answer 17

Identity can be formed through avowal, where individuals affirm their own identity, or through ascription, where society assigns an identity to them.

Question 17

What is meant by “scope” in cultural identity?

Answer 17

Scope refers to the intensity, breadth, generalizability, number of people, and frequency with which a cultural identity is expressed or recognized.

Question 18

How do the intensity of avowal and ascription vary?

Answer 18

The intensity of avowal and ascription can differ based on situation, context, relationship, and the specific identity being expressed or imposed.

Question 19

What does Collier mean by the idea that identity endures changes over time and space?

Answer 19

Identification with a certain culture or group can last a long time or evolve and change across different periods and locations, depending on life experiences and interactions.

Question 20

How are content and relational aspects involved in identity negotiation in intercultural relationships?

Answer 20

In intercultural relationships, identity is negotiated through interactions, and the way one’s identity is received by others can influence the individual’s internal identity.

Question 21

What is the role of “agency” in Collier’s theory of cultural identity?

Answer 21

Agency is the capacity of individuals to act independently and make free choices. This capacity can be limited by societal constraints, particularly for marginalized groups, who may face greater risks when exercising agency.

Question 22

Why might marginalized groups face greater risks in asserting their agency?

Answer 22

Marginalized groups often encounter greater consequences for asserting their identities or making independent choices due to societal structures that limit their power and recognition.

Question 23

What political and social structures does Collier discuss as influences on cultural identity?

Answer 23

Collier highlights the influence of dominant political structures like patriarchy, whiteness, and colour-blindness, which shape and sometimes suppress cultural identities.

Question 24

What is the concept of “multivocality” in cultural identity?

Answer 24

Multivocality refers to having different interpretations, meanings, or values within a single cultural identity, showing the complexity and diversity of experiences within a group.

Question 25

How does the salience of group identifications differ across situations?

Answer 25

The prominence or visibility of a group identity can change depending on the situation, such as the context of an interaction, the people involved, and the environment.

Question 26

What challenges might someone face when trying to speak as an individual within a group setting?

Answer 26

Individuals may struggle to assert their own voice or identity within a group, particularly if their identity conflicts with the dominant norms or expectations of the group.

Question 27

How do cultural and intercultural competencies interact with political and institutional contexts?

Answer 27

Cultural and intercultural competencies must consider political, institutional, organizational, and personal relationship contexts, as well as situated interactions.

Question 28

What range of cultural identities might individuals express?

Answer 28

Individuals can express a range of cultural identities, including national, racial, ethnic, class-related, sex- and gender-based, political, and religious identities.

Question 29

How does the salience of cultural identities vary?

Answer 29

The salience of cultural identities differs across situational contexts and varies over time and interactions.

Question 30

What is meant by the “scope” of cultural identities?

Answer 30

Scope refers to how widely shared and generalizable a cultural identity is within a society or group.

Question 31

What are the content and relational aspects of cultural identities?

Answer 31

Cultural identities have both content (the values, beliefs, and practices associated with an identity) and relational aspects (how identity is negotiated and received in relationships).

Question 32

How is identity negotiation characterized by hierarchy?

Answer 32

Identity negotiation is hierarchical, where individuals from marginalized groups take greater risks and experience different consequences when expressing their preferences and emotions.

Question 33

What is “agency” in the context of cultural identity theory?

Answer 33

Agency is the freedom and ability to choose and enact a range of actions. It is influenced by factors such as patriarchal ideologies and histories of oppression, which can enable or constrain individual choices.

Question 34

What is “Whitespeak” according to Moon (1999)?

Answer 34

“Whitespeak” is a concept where the race of others is abstractly defined, the agency of others is erased, and individuals are disembodied in discourse, reinforcing racial power imbalances.

Question 35

How do multiple cultural identifications and their salience change across situations?

Answer 35

Individuals speak from multiple locations and enact different cultural identifications, with the salience of these identifications changing across situations based on context, agency, and hierarchy.

Question 36

How does an individual’s agency play a role in asserting identity, as demonstrated by an Israeli participant?

Answer 36

An Israeli participant described choosing to claim an Israeli identity or a new immigrant identity depending on the situation, illustrating how agency affects which identity is asserted.

Question 37

Why is it important to acknowledge multiple identifications and their salience?

Answer 37

Acknowledging multiple identifications and their changing salience is crucial for understanding how contextual factors like agency and hierarchy influence identity expression.

Question 38

hat is the struggle faced by individuals in group settings, especially in contexts of conflict?

Answer 38

The struggle involves asserting individual or group identity within a context of historically intractable conflict, where different levels of agency affect one’s ability to express identity, as seen in interactions between Israelis and Palestinians.

Question 39

How do invisible standards based on whiteness and class privilege function in identity formation?

Answer 39

Invisible standards based on whiteness and class privilege reinforce and extend the status and resources of dominant groups, which can obscure systems of oppression and hinder efforts to create change.

Question 40

Why is it important to understand contradictions and nuances in group identifications?

Answer 40

Understanding contradictions and nuances in group identifications helps reveal how broader social structures and norms shape the negotiation of cultural identities and how these processes are problematic.