COMPONENTS OF OUR IDENTITY

Steve Rosenfield - What I Be Project

“The ‘What I Be Project’ is all about honesty,” Rosenfield explains. “In today’s society, we are told to look or act a certain way. If we differ from these “standards,” we are often judged, ridiculed, and sometimes even killed over them.” In this thought provoking project, as the viewer we become the participant. It is not a passive action as each photo and its story pulls us in. These are real people with real issues, just like the rest of us. It is okay to not be okay and that’s encouraging.

What Makes Your Gender?

At the weekend, I visited the National Science Museum to see 'What Makes Your Gender' - a display in the 'Who Am I?' gallery, which runs from 4 February - 5 May. This display was thought up and created by young people from Gendered Intelligence, to show the different way people express their gender.

Society often views gender as 'boy' or 'girl' - a binary classification - depending on a person's biological sex. But this concept is not inclusive of everybody. We all have experiences of conforming and not conforming to expectations of being a 'boy' or 'girl'. Science plays its part in distinguishing 'boys' from 'girls'. But it can also be used to empower us to express who we are. What makes up your gender?

This project enabled 17 transponder people (ages 13-25) from Gendered Intelligence to learn about their heritage in the world of science and medicine. Their mission is to increase understanding of gender diversity in creative ways. They believe diverse gender expressions should be made more visible and valued.

Chelsea Crossett - The Things We Carry


The Things We Carry features photographs of 4 women: their face, the side of their head, their chest, their hands and their tummy. The series of photos allows you to compare the similarities and differences between these 4 women, even though you cannot see their entire body.

Iman Shagggag - Identity

Shagggag is a Sudanese painter who focuses on the notion that people are judged by the colour of their skin or religion. This series of paintings feature the same woman in 10 different skin colours or religious clothing and jewellery to represent the perspectives that people convey through their nationality.

Ken Ohara - One

Ohara is most noted for his series of photographs titled "One", in which he presents faces with a standard size and tone.

It is a monotonous and seemingly never-ending collection of humanity. They are people of all ages and races. The eyes, nose, and mouth are located at the same position on each page. Their individualism and differences disappear. It shows how people are really the same despite the differences we always see in each other. It also proves that the human face is much more that just the eyes, nose and mouth. 

IMMIGRATION MUSEUM: FIRST IMPRESSIONS

THE WAY WE LOOK

Physical characteristics are like jigsaw pieces that make up each person's appearance. Skin and hair colour, height, nose, eye and head shape are some of the many features that we inherit.  The way we look has altered over time as our ancestors have moved and adapted to different environments.

Is it helpful then to separate human beings into races based on any single combination of physical features? Most scientists suggest not.

Yet we are quick to classify each other. Every day we judge people on the way they look.

WHERE WE COME FROM

A family album. Full of faces, memories, forgotten experiences.

Sometimes photos are missing. For some there are no photos at all — only questions.

Why are we so fascinated by our family trees? What is it that we hope to discover? What does it mean if we can’t complete the family picture?

Family relationships are complex — children are adopted, families blend, friends become family. We may rebel against family authority, or deny our family heritage.

WHAT WE ARE CALLED

Our names can be a blessing or a burden. Love or hate them, keep or change them or constantly have to explain them.

The name we are given is our first step towards a separate identity. Names can also signal a connection to our family or a particular religion, language or community.

There are times when our name sets us apart. People ask: 'How do you pronounce that?' 'That's an interesting name. Where does it come from?' or 'How do you spell that?'

WHAT WE SAY AND HOW WE SAY IT

A busy street. An unfamiliar country. You’re lost. All you can hear is a language you can’t understand. Suddenly you hear words or an accent you recognise. Immediately you feel more at home.

Often we take our own language and accent for granted. Yet our words connect us to so many parts of identity — our family, literature, humour, even our dreams. What language do you dream in?

Language and accents also separate us. Some people hear a conversation in a public place that’s not in English, and feel threatened.

Are they talking about me? Why don’t they speak English?

If we lose our language we lose a part of ourselves.

WHAT WE WEAR

Clothing does more than cover us. It reveals what we like, can afford, believe in and aspire to. Brand names influence our choice of clothes and accessories. Colours, textures, styles and cosmetics all express the image we want to project.

Sometimes we need to emphasise our allegiances or beliefs. Hairstyles may help us to stand out. Piercings, markings and tattoos can announce membership of a particular club or faith.

THE FOOD WE EAT

The food we eat does more than nourish us. It reveals what we like, believe in and where we’ve come from. Growing up, our school lunchbox can be a source of envy or shame. Later we may take pride in the food traditions of our families.

We now have more cuisines, ingredients, cooking shows and recipe books than ever before. Today it seems most of us know the difference between prosciuttoand pancetta, sushi and sashimi.

We are what we eat. Or are we?

What are you having for dinner tonight and does it say anything about your identity?