Personal Narrative: My Cultural Identity

I am even different from my family. My cultural identity explains that I speak english english, I love spicy foods, I like the wear comfortable cloths and I am country girl and listens to country music . Although I speak English, I know some French and also some Spanish. Unlike my family, I love spicy food. Oh boy, I love me some spicy cajun food!

One's Cultural Identity Everyone's culture differs, it is one way that distinguishes one from others. It is acquired, everyone is raised from it, and it determines the way one view the world and others. Imagine being in place with others that have different perspective of culture. Culture greatly informs the way one views the world and others.

Growing up I remember from a very early age being completely captivated by Fashion. My love for Fashion has continued to follow me from the early experiences of watching the red carpets of award shows and being completely infatuated with the ladies long gowns and the vibrant colors of the dresses. To following me through elementary school and loving Art and being able to put colors together to the people in my life always taking notice from an early age, this has continued to follow me all through my academic journey and even to where I am today.

At first I wrestled with where my identity lay. The strong values and traditions of the Indian culture sometimes made it difficult to fit in with the crowd. As I grew older, I began to understand that I was not part of an individual culture, but a fusion of two rich and colorful histories. I recognized that there is remarkably more to an individual than where she comes from, and more to her than where she currently lives. Importantly, being from two cultures allows me to incorporate the best qualities of both.

My cultural identity can be identified by my age, the food I eat, and the music I listen to. My favorite foods define who I am because, Louisiana has very different types food. Crawfish, Gumbo, Alligator, and Boudin are examples of some of the foods i like. A lot of people, like me, put Tony Chachere’s on their food. Just something as simple as liking spicy foods can make your culture different.

The background of my cultural identity I am an African American female but that isn’t all there is to know me for. I am an African American girl who is very interactive with my religion and also my culture. Cultural identity can be hard to explain because some people don’t know what’s really in their culture and they fail to see , and understand it. I know what my cultural identity is because of my ethiopian flag, the baked macaroni, and the movie the lion king.

As a young woman fashion has always appealed to me. Fashion is a form of expression through which individuals illustrate their different personalities. Inspiration for my sense of style is usually derived from Pinterest, magazines, Youtube, Instagram pages and fashion bloggers. Some of my favorite clothing brands include; Forever 21, Hollister, Free People, Nike, Reebok, Puma, American Eagle and American Apparel. Although each brand sells different styles of clothing, they all have one major similarity that is the primary reason for their success in sales and business.

The world is filled with people, and like snowflakes, each person is not the same as another. Each person identifies with different aspects of their lives to create their own personal identities. I personally identify with my Italian side of my family to help form who I am today. I have found myself connecting with this side more so than the other parts of my identity. It affects how I live my life by becoming the center to the culture surrounding me. However, my ethnic identity as an Italian American also influences how I live when it comes to my religion, and how my religion affects my life alongside my ethnicity. I will expand on this issue on how I express my ethnic and religious identity in regards to each other.

So, in looking at my cultural identity, I am examining both my own labels and what they mean to me and layering on top of that cultural influencers that operate within my life and how the interplay between these layers works. In looking at all of the groups I listed as being important parts of my cultural identity, I think the one aspect of internalized or deep culture seen as an undertone throughout all of them is the theme of independence. I was raised to believe that as long as what I was doing was not hurting anyone else, it was okay. I was also taught early on that I am the only one who can make me happy, and that has to happen before I will be able to help others.

Most people like to identify themselves with their cultural backgrounds such as priding themselves with their ethnic culture, heritage, and traditions. Although cultural background expands beyond the borders of ethnicity and race such as religion, hometown, or gender, just to name a few. However, unlike most people, I do not identify with my culture or ethnic background. Although I am a quarter Native American and a slew of other European races, mainly Irish. I do not recognize with either.

I could feel that I was not whole. I pondered on what it could be and then realized that I had never fully accepted myself. I never fully understood that I could be more than one thing. That my identity could be as complex as a 17x17 rubik’s cube. That I didn't necessarily have to fit into one box.

Heritage     Throughout the world there are millions of languages and cultures that can be found in even the smallest parts of the smallest countries.  With so many cultures around the world, there is no doubt that every person comes from an ethnic background, whether they are just one race or are more than one race.  These cultures and languages are often passed down through generations of family.  My entire family’s ethnic background is Indian for as far as I can trace it back to.  From my great-grandparents to my little cousins, we all are Indian and our culture and language was passed down from the elderly to all of my younger relatives, who, like me, are still learning our language, food, and cultural values of India from our family.

“I was half-Indian in one place and white in the other. It was like being Indian was my job, but it was a part-time job.” Identity is something only an individual can fully define. My brother says I am affectionate,cheerful, and calm. My grandfather sees me as slim, pretty and sweet.

Fashion is more common in current society than in the ancient tribes or peasant communities. Modern society is an open one where class differences are not as severe as in primitive society. Its urban and mobile class structure allows people to develop its own personality taste and implement its new course. The modern world is more open-minded to differences and consequently places few restraints on the cycle of fashion. Our principles of judgment have also changed.

One’s introduction to culture begins at birth and continues to expand as the individual is introduced to family, religion, and community. Culture is what shapes us and begins to define us in many ways. I am a white, Irish, catholic, heterosexual, cisgender, mentally