It is of utmost importance to carefully choose the people we associate with, as we are greatly influenced by our own peer group because they can assist in developing a strong individual identity. We usually feel more secure when we know that we have others around us who share our goals and care about our progress. Being part of a peer group fosters the idea that we are accepted and loved for who we are. This is why change is often difficult for certain individuals because suddenly, you are cut off from your regular group, who you have become so familiar with. We sometimes seem wired to adopt the goals of the people around us, particularly when we develop a close relationship with them.
With groups it can affect organisations, communities and society as a whole. Even the people who inflict discrimination can be affected by negative impact -they could fail to experience the benefits of diversity, equality and inclusion. It could also affect their broadening of their horizons. Negative impact can be :- Loss of self esteem Poor self image Confusion, anger and depression Disempowerment Loss of motivation, achievement Missed opportunities Marginalisation 1.3 The importance of inclusive practice is it enables people to be valued, confident, feel safe and have all their needs met. They can then participate in society without feeling prejudice or
Every person is unique and is individual so in order to promote equality it is important to treat everyone fairly. Each person has their own needs, wishes and preferences so it is imperative that these are respected. “Diversity” is another way of explaining “differences” and it’s important for us to realise that although often people may have many things in common with each other, they can also at the same time be very different and unique in many ways. We need to understand and recognize those differences, moreso than just simply tolerate them, so that we can embrace and value those people which will in itself produce a more conducive environment for all. The result of this should lead to “inclusion” which is about creating a sense of belonging, feeling included, feeling respected and valued, even though it may be that that person lacks some advantages.
The human psyche is driven by the desire to feel accepted and included followed by the underlying feature to socialise. This is explored through the concept of belonging which creates a duality nature in which an individual’s ability to interact with others in society can be of a positive and negative influence. Factors like the environment consist of social and cultural constructs which define a human’s sense of identity as it facilitates the notion of shared experiences and interest. However a lack of mutual identity can be of a negative nature as it isolates those who cannot conform to the expectation of other’s. On this basis, shared identity is clearly evident in Peter Skrzynecki’s anthology; The Immigrant Chronicles who describes the
“Belonging is when people accept you for who you are” Our identity determines who we are and where we belong, and it undergoes a continual change as we are exposed to different kinds of environments and people. Belonging means to feel a sense of welcome and acceptance to someone or something. It is indeed true that belonging is when people accept you for who you are, isolation and depression often ensues when one fails to find a sense of belonging. Our sense of belonging could be affected by the change of our experiences overtime, and how easily we are influenced by our family and friends, or even media. As it may be difficult to discover our true identity, it jeopardises our ability to find a sense of belonging, because we are weary from our previous unpleasant experiences.
Our interests, motivation and happiness are tied to the feeling that we belong to a greater community that may share common interests and aspirations. Isolation on the other hand can cause loneliness and a low social status which can harm a person's subjective sense of well-being, as well as his or her intellectual achievement and health. Belonging gives us connections to other people or things and we can gain other certain feelings with it such as security and happiness. Peter Skrzynecki’s poems reflect this sense of belonging through many different ways and in many different contexts such as family, school and belonging to the land, but also have some disconnection with his family. In his poems, we still hear reference to Polish foods, language, connections and disconnections that exist.
“An individual’s interaction with others and around them can enrich or limit their experience of belonging” Interactions established by individuals with others around them may bring about contentment or conversely isolation. These interactions may have already been rooted from the past or can just newly transpire. Individuals themselves can unearth a feeling of contentment through their interactions, by the fact that they share some sort of rationality with others around them, whether it’s beliefs, culture or interests. This can lead to the formation of conformity, which further enhances an individual’s experience of belonging with others and the world around them. On the other hand, the notion of isolation and disappointment can emerge from
Some norms are healthy and some are not necessary. Some contribute to the betterment of individuals, families, and communities; others can breed prejudice and prejudgment. Cultural norms often are so strongly rooted in an individual's daily life that they may not be aware of certain behaviors. Our identity and self-expression is molded by the social norms, so what happens when people want to express themselves against the norms? So I’m compelled to ask, tattoos, are they socially accepted?
Belonging is a way of having acceptance, security and fulfilment whether it’s belonging to a group of friends, family, race and culture. Experiences we encounter in life shape our identity in various, throughout all stages of our life. Through this, we develop a sense of identity as a result of going through the experience, which is what makes us different from one another. Experiences we encounter make us who we are, and make us a unique individual. These experiences may also present us with a sense of belonging, whether this is by the means of feeling acceptance or fulfilment.
For example, some vocal sounds of emotions would have appeared to be positive to some and negative for others. Sometimes the sounds are not easily recognized in different cultures especially for positive sounds. This research further supports the idea where basic emotions are shared by all human beings, but it is culturally driven in the way that it is influenced by people around us. Therefore, the social construction of emotions plays an important role when expressing our emotions.