issue task ...social groups and humans

[dicapino]

 It is primarily through our identification with social groups that we define ourselves.

Write a response in which you discuss the extent to which you agree or disagree with the statement and explain your reasoning for the position you take. In developing and supporting your position, you should consider ways in which the statement might or might not hold true and explain how these considerations shape your position.

 

Social groups, by definition, are groups made up of members that share and espouse similar views, beliefs and morals. Every human, one way or the other is a member of such a group- since he has to relate and socialize with individuals on a daily basis. Individuals define themselves by identifying with social groups.

Firstly, in all societies individuals create relationship with persons who have common goals, and it is in these relationships that people develop themselves: moral, political and religious beliefs. For instance, the American Civil Rights movement was pastiche of individuals, mostly black, who believe in equality of humans and were staunch to this ideology. Paragons like Rosa Parks, Martin Luther, Malcom X, and Jessie Jackson where able to define their goals in life by joining the civil right movements, and this was because they all had one purpose which was fighting for equity.

Civil right groups may not be seen as exemplar social groups, but schools have a cornupia of them: gangs, cliques, and reading friends. Members of these groups espouse similar views, good or bad. Reading pals see academic success and knowledge as goals that are worth attaining and these students would work in tandem to improve their school grades in their subject areas; to the student who belong to this group his friends affect his psyche: he behaves according to rules or beliefs of this group- reading and completing school task assidously. Conversely a member of a school gang would see violence as a germane virtue, since violent activities- bullying and fighting- are the ideals espoused in such groups. Juxtaposing these behaviours we find that they were engendered by the kind of friends these kids made at school. Definitely social groups define how we behave and what we think of ourselves.

Furthermore, the Feminist movement- a group that fights for liberation of women, and want women to be seen as economic equals with their male counterparts- is also an exemplar social group. Ladies who identify with this group, both official and unofficial, see themselves as ladies who can achieve positions seen as masculine: chief executives in corporations; presidents of countries; senators and legislators. Such groups have galvanized women ubiquitously: Christaine Largade of the IMF; President Rousleff of Brazil; Merkel of Germany to attain eminent positions.

While contrarians may argue of individuality- human ability to make personal decision and choices- mordenity has transcended human relations to another level, an age where individuals can form social groups on social media undermines this claim. Nobody is an island; egregious and noble beliefs are bolstered by the company humans keep, and this has a bearing on human quirks and idionsyncrasies.