“Identity is never singular but is multiply constructed across intersecting and antagonistic discourses, practices and positions” — Stuart Hall
A flock in the sky is recognised by the word ‘birds’; a school in the seas is termed ‘fishes’; a herd in a safari is known as ‘elephants’; a pack could be that of ‘wolves’ or ‘dogs’ and a crowd could comprise men or/and women with no discrimination regarding caste, creed or nationality. This means that from a distance, all are one. However, once we are given a specific name, we no longer remain part of the herd but become single.
Where pets at home are allotted an identity, they are then called out by that name and not as “Cat, come here” or “Dog, fetch the ball”. This is quite a common practice, but the stray in the streets will always be a cat or a dog. If the pets are also referred to by their species, they are unlikely to respond when reached out to. Such is the power of identity.
The importance of identity cannot be undermined, where individuals stand out among their peers as Mr X or Ms Y. This enables the distinguishing of one human from another, but to an extra-terrestrial, they will all be only humans. Similarly, we understand that followers of almost all religions are broken up into different sects with specific ideologies and ritualistic practices, but to outsiders, they could just be Muslims, Christians, Jews, Hindus, Buddhists, etc.
How are identities formed? This is a simple question with a very complex answer, as it covers vast aspects of human life. The matrix of identity comprises both internal and external aspects, which include personality, personal beliefs, experiences, memories, education, socio-economic standing, cultural background, family, nationality, gender and occupation. When combined, they create an aura of self that develops from early childhood and remains attached throughout one’s life. How we see ourselves and how others see us have a tremendous bearing on how we identify ourselves; therefore, some parts of our identity may undergo a metamorphosis as we advance in age.
How beautiful this world would become if we all chose to give preference to our common identity, that is, the privilege of being human, instead of focusing on the crises of diversity
Essentially, identity enables individuals to ignite their sense of self that is closely related to specific social groups, eviction from which can be felt as damaging to one’s worth as a member of society. The urge to protect this alliance causes members to ferociously stick with their identity, which many a time leads to what we understand as prejudice, discrimination and segregation, based on the perception of uniqueness. So, while identity is a privilege, it can also result in a crisis of separation between Homo sapiens.
Where, on one hand, adhering to set group patterns can elevate members’ status as conformists to its beliefs, standards and values, it can, on the other, give way to arrogance and insecurity — the “Us vs. Them” and “Mine vs. Yours” syndromes. Under this scenario, people tend to distance themselves from other groups, viewing them with suspicion and as potential threats to their own identity. The most devastating effect of these concepts is that of negating the common ground that we are, in fact, bound to each other in an undeniable relationship of humanity, which is why our minds become fogged with biases.
A good example would be that of looking at a painting wearing smudged or tinted spectacles. These onlookers will never be able to appreciate the vibrant colours, the delicate strokes or the finesse with which the artist portrays details. For them, it is only a canvas with coloured murky stains and not a piece of art which only luminous eyes can discern. The same holds when we are interacting with humans whom we consider different from ourselves. We fail to appreciate the good in them and prefer ousting their presence from our existence rather than learning from their traits. With obstinacy peculiar to the mule, we keep on romanticising our own negativity while refusing to adopt their positivity.
Human beings are born and raised all around the globe under diverse environments, faiths, lifestyles, values, cultures and socio-politico-economic conditions, while basic morals remain similar. These include honesty, truthfulness, an affectionate attitude, respectfulness, obedience, compassion, etc., universally preached by all types of ideologies, both worldly and Godly. Regardless of the notion of sacrificing living beings prevalent in many religions, none endorse murder, theft, burglary, destruction or genocide. Evil is denounced by the majority, while virtue is profoundly appreciated. To put it in a nutshell, there can be differences in appearance, but underlying goodness cannot be dissimilar.
The fact of the matter is: “The eye sees only what the mind is prepared to comprehend”, in the words of Robertson Davies in the novel Tempest-Tost, and as Veronica Roth puts it in Allegiant: “But I think that no matter how smart, people usually see what they’re already looking for, that’s all.”
Are we truly looking for alienation within our species, or do we want to unite as one integrated whole? Even in mathematics, 1 is considered whole, while multiple numbers represented in fractions are its broken components. According to the Continental Drift Theory, lands that were once joined together were separated into the present form of how we perceive this earth, but are connected by vast oceans, the common element of which is water. How beautiful this world would become if we all chose to give preference to our common identity, that is, the privilege of being human, instead of focusing on the crises of diversity.