Identity

Question 1

Michael Foucault

Answer 1

Power produces knowledge
-Power is implicated in what is considered to be “true” or “false”
Power and knowledge imply one another
Identity is free floating
Identity is a form of oppression and a way of exercising power over people preventing them from moving outside fixed boundaries
-He disagrees with the notion of collective identity
How knowledge is constructed
-The historical conception of sexuality, mental illness, crime and punishment
How knowledge is constructed and used to control the individual

Question 2

Giddens

Answer 2

See’s identity as concious
He says that we have to work out roles for ourselves
Even those who have never given any thought to their own identity still will have been intellectually compelled to make significant choices throughout their life

Conscious though- Clothing, appearance and leisure

Giddens believes that post modern society had brought about this change and we are encouraged to reflect on ourselves in problem pages in magazine

Information and ideas from the media do not merely reflect but contribute to the shape of the social world and are central to a person reflecting on who they are

Question 3

Tajfel on stereotypes

Answer 3

Social identity theory- argue that humans use social categorisation to categorize humans based on shared characteristics ( race, age, gender, religon, sexual orientation)

IN groups
Out groups

Stereotypes form because people associate negative traits to the out groups and positive stuff with the in groups

This helps us maintain a positive self image