The Construction of Identity
Analysing how social class, gender, ethnicity, and age shape individual and social identities.
TL;DR:This topic examines how our sense of self is constructed through our social characteristics. Students analyse how social class, gender, ethnicity, and age shape both individual and social identities. They explore the shift from 'modern' identities (fixed and based on work/class) to 'postmodern' identities (fluid and based on consumption and choice).
About This Topic
This topic examines how our sense of self is constructed through our social characteristics. Students analyse how social class, gender, ethnicity, and age shape both individual and social identities. They explore the shift from 'modern' identities (fixed and based on work/class) to 'postmodern' identities (fluid and based on consumption and choice).
For AQA and OCR, identity is the thread that connects all other sociological topics. It requires students to understand the 'nature vs. nurture' debate and the role of 'labelling' in identity formation. This topic is ideally suited for collaborative investigations into 'hybrid identities' and 'identity performance', helping students see how they 'do' gender or 'do' class in their everyday interactions.
Key Questions
- How is gender identity socially constructed?
- In what ways does social class still influence identity in the UK?
- How do hybrid identities emerge in a multicultural society?
Watch Out for These Misconceptions
Common MisconceptionIdentity is something we are born with.
What to Teach Instead
Sociologists argue identity is 'socially constructed' through interaction. A 'gender-neutral' role play activity can help students see how much of our 'masculinity' or 'femininity' is actually a learned performance rather than a biological trait.
Common MisconceptionSocial class no longer matters for identity in the UK.
What to Teach Instead
While consumption has changed, class still heavily influences life chances and self-perception. Using 'class-marker' sorting tasks (e.g., accents, education, social networks) helps students see that class identity remains a powerful force, even if it is less visible than in the past.
Active Learning Ideas
See all activities→Inquiry Circle
Identity Boxes
In small groups, students create a 'profile' for a fictional person based on their class, gender, and ethnicity. They must list the likely 'markers' of that identity, such as their hobbies, language style, and future aspirations.
Simulation Game
The Identity Performance
Students are given different social settings (e.g., a job interview, a football match, a family dinner). They must discuss in pairs how they would 'perform' their identity differently in each, using Goffman's idea of 'front stage' and 'back stage'.
Think-Pair-Share
Hybrid Identities
Students consider the term 'Britishness'. They discuss with a partner how someone might have a 'hybrid identity' (e.g., British-Muslim or Black-British) and how this challenges traditional ideas of national identity.