Enrique G. Murillo, Jr., Ph.D.

College of Education

 

 

EDUC 709 - Murillo

 

Self-Ethnography / Identities Statement and Presentation

(6-10 page essay, 30 points, due by session 8)

 

Students will complete and subsequently share with the class a social group/identities profile, and explore specific incidents from their personal history that serve as a foundation for their story/study/analysis. Write a 6-10 page essay. To receive full credit for this assignment you must integrate at least 4 major concepts or terms from class (lectures/readings/discussion) to illustrate your self-ethnography.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Instructions:

Step 1: Indicate your social membership for each identity category. Then mark an “X” either in the “Dominant/Center” or “Subordinate/Margins” column based on your “Identity.”

 

For the purpose of this assignment, “Dominant/Center” refers to groups that have greater power, privilege, prestige, and access; whereas “Subordinate/Margins” refers to groups that are less powerful, and have outsider associations or Other experiences/environment. . . not part of the dominant.

 

 

IDENTITIES YOUR IDENTITY DOMINANT / CENTER

SUBORDINATE /

MARGINS
        Gender      
   Socio-Economic Class      

 

Nationality / Citizenship / Immigration

 

      

 

 Sexual Orientation

 

      

 

Age

 

      

 

Race

 

      

 

Ethnic Group

 

      

 

Ableness/Disabilities

 

      

 

Religion / Beliefs

 

      

 

Geographic Region

 

      

 

Language / Use of English

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      
       

 

 

 

 

Step 2: As you read the materials, discuss the readings throughout the term, and maintain your journal, think about specific incidents from your personal history that serve as a foundation for your story/study/analysis.

- Think about your social identities and membership into groups that are NOT of a personal choice like a sport or a favorite hobby. While these might define how you like to spend your time, they do not have the same social consequences as the identities you were born with or born into.

 

Use these prompts below to write your essay.

1. The identity that you think of the most often?

2. The identity that you think about the least?

3. The identity that gives you the most privileges/benefits?

4. The identity that most hurts your options, access, and reward?

5. The identity that you know least about BUT want to know more?

6. The identity that has the strongest effect on how you see yourself?

7. The identity that has the greatest effect, positively or negatively, on how others see you?

8. Tell of a time you felt especially proud to be a member of one of your social groups?

9. Share a time it felt particularly painful to be a member of one of your social groups?

10. Which stereotype have you heard about one of your groups, but it fails to describe you?

11. What are the impacts of these identities on your views about the world?

12. What type of community were you raised in? Was it homogeneous or heterogeneous? Were you the majority or minority in your community?

13. What identity or aspects of your identities are you most proud of and why?

14. What identity or aspects of your identities are you least proud of, ashamed, or believe that it has negatively affected how you see yourself?

15. Name a time when you felt different or noticed that you were different?

16. Name your “first memory” of diversity or a time you noticed that someone else was different from yourself, and why that particular incident is the one that you remember.

17.  What are some of the privileges you have and how have they shaped your life?

18. What kinds of messages did you hear growing up about your culture or social identities?

19. What were some of the positives and what were the most hurtful/negative messages you learned about your culture or social identities, and how did you react or internalize them?

20. What are some ways that social and cultural diversity became (or did not become) divisive and/or disruptive of your schooling?

21. What issues are raised about INCLUSION / EXCLUSION / EQUITY in schools, higher education, and the larger society?

 

 

Step 3: Write a 6-10 page self-ethnographic identities statement essay.

- To receive full credit for this assignment you must integrate at least 4 major concepts or terms from class (lectures/readings/discussion) to illustrate your self-ethnography.

- Please include your social group/identities profile from above when turning in your assignment.

- Be prepared to share your profile and highlights of your essay with the class.