What Identity Means To Me

Rafaella Morais
English 1100
7 September, 2016
Prof. Young

To me, identity is the way in which you and others around you perceive yourself to be. An identity is complex and for that reason there are various components that set a person apart from others. Some of these elements are language, culture, education, ethnicity, gender, and many more. In Gloria Anzaldua’s essay she states, “Who is to say that robbing a people of its language is less violent than war?”(246). This quote really stood out to me when reading this essay, further bringing about the definition of identity in my eyes. The

quote compares robbing one of their language and war, an intense comparison, but I agree. In war people sacrifice their lives, dying for others. If someone were to lose their mother language that would feel like the same thing to them because society is taking away their tongue, their root. To add on, Gloria Anzaldua also states, “I will no longer be made to feel ashamed of existing. I will have my voice: Indian, Spanish, White. I will have my serpent’s tongue- my woman’s voice, my sexual voice, my poet’s voice. I will overcome the tradition of silence”(251). Moreover, Anzaldua is revealing her pride towards her language and that no one can change it. She stands up for herself as a minority and reflects on how her identity WILL NOT be broken. This is something I strongly believe in because I originate from

another country and speak a different language. No one should have to disguise themselves as “standard” to fit in. Having an identity means being unique and yourself, if everyone was the same life would be boring. To emphasize even more how your upbringing and culture affects your identity, a quote in Anzaldua’s essay states, “...while I still have to speak English or Spanish when I would rather speak Spanglish, and as long as I have to accommodate the English speakers rather than having them accommodate me, my tongue will be illegitimate”(251). Furthermore, this quote exemplifies her passion of sticking true to her roots. Although, she knows she is capable of speaking just English she does not want to forget about her mother tongue, Spanish. Like Anazaldua said why can't others accommodate her? Why does she have to accommodate others? Well that's just how society works. The "standard" is praised and the "nonstandard" is looked down upon and forced to conform. In all, culture and language play a big role in my definition of identity and also my identity.