SJSU Engineering Social Construction of Identity Question

In this reflection paper, you are to critically engage the topic of the social construction of identity in your life.

How is your perception of your own identity related to or affected by social and cultural structures, ideas or conventions?  Please discuss and provide examples of how at least one of your identities (i.e., religious, gender, ethnic, racial, class, sexual orientation, disability and/or age, among others) is shaped, or has been shaped, by cultural and societal influences within contexts of equality and inequality.  Please integrate course material (concepts, theories, discussions, lectures, readings). Please cite at least one course reading and one appropriate outside source.  All course materials are posted on the course HOME page.

Guidelines: As this paper will analyze how your identity is shaped by social/cultural values, conventions, or practice in relation to equality, you will use the first person “I” in the essay.  But don’t forget that this is an analytical essay.  You will describe your experience and analyze what social/cultural conventions, values, or expectations have shaped your identity, and how equality/ inequality is involved in the shaping of your identity by social/cultural influences.  Please review the rubrics before you start writing the paper.  You can use APA or MLA citation format, and should include intext citations and a reference list for either citation format.