Do We Choose Our Identity Analysis

Identity

Identity is who a person is and is comprised of a countless amount of things. But what or who chooses your identity? People believe that identity is either chosen by you or by others and other things around you. Identity is, in fact, chosen by the people and things we surround ourselves with causing our ability to choose our own identity to be weakened by external influences such as social media, race, religion, friends, family, and the list continues.

One reason why identity is chosen for you is that your inner identity is determined by our environment and surroundings. It is important to understand that your identity is influenced by social media, fiends and even our own families. Paragraph 3 in the article “Do You Choose Your Identity

However, your identity is not really determined by just you. If your identity could fully be your choice then we might not have social rankings, groups and even stereotypes. In the short story, “Mirror Image,” Alice, a brain transplant patient, argues with her sister, Jenny, about whether or not her internal identity has changed along with her physical identity while watching Alice’s story on the news. In the dispute, Alice claims that she is the same girl she was before her operation. The argument is shown in paragraph 29-34, when the girls precisely say, “‘Is that your family?’ Jenny asked. ‘I don’t even know them.’ ‘Gail. Wow that’s so weird.’ ‘That’s not my name.’” This quote supports the opposing claim that you choose your own identity. However, it is a weak argument since Alice did change, even if she did not know it. She doesn’t hang out with her old friends, instead hanging out with the popular kids, and has even become a cheerleader. Furthermore, her own sister, once very close, doesn’t recognize nor trust the new Alice. Consequently`, this evidence is inadequate in supporting the claim that your identity is full your