Understanding Identity: Factors, Values, and Beliefs

• Identity is defined as your sense of who you are.

Factors that Contribute to Identity

• Culture, beliefs, values, traditions, family history, and religion are factors.
• Personal characteristics including physical appearance and qualities play a role.
• How you express yourself through clothing and the music you listen to matters.

What it Means to be Canadian

• Being Canadian encompasses a broad and diverse identity.
• Experiences, values, and beliefs define what it means to be Canadian.

Values vs Beliefs

• Values are based on what’s important, such as honesty in friendships.
• Beliefs are ideas and opinions, that may or may not be based on facts, such as the belief that wealth equals happiness.
• Freedom of expression and a democratic government are societal values.
• The right to seek employment anywhere in Canada is a value.
• Legal representation if accused of a crime is provided.
• Indigenous peoples have rights that are protected.
• People have equality between women and men.
• There is a right to use either of Canada's official languages.
• Both English and French-speaking people can receive an education in their own language.
• Multiculturalism protects cultures and traditions from other parts of the world within Canada.

Influence on National Identity

Factors That Influence National Identity

• Early history, geography, government, and religion affect national identity.
• Media, ethnic and cultural groups, education, and economic systems are influential.
• Pressure groups and language also shape national identity.

Influence on Personal Identity

Factors That Influence Personal Identity

• Family, peers, and media shape identity.
• Community, religion, where one lives, and climate matter.
• The landscape, community, and environment also shape identity.
• Early History influences culture, traditions, values, and spoken languages through Indigenous Peoples, Culture, and Confederation.
• Government and laws influence social, political and economic life, as well as actions of citizens through legal systems, and democracy.
• Legal systems and democracy affect how other countries view Canada.
• Culture encompasses beliefs, values, behaviours, and traditions that include food, language, arts and holiday celebrations.
• Media create images of individuals and groups, spread messages that can affect individuals and all of society; it can influence your opinions and attitudes.
• News outlets, social media, and popular culture are types of media.
• Cindy Klassen, a speed-skater from Winnipeg is a decorated Olympic athlete who won 5 medals at the Turin Games in 2006.
• Cindy Klassen set a Canadian record of winning a gold, 2 silver, and 2 bronze Olympic medals.
• Calling oneself a "Manitoban" expresses a regional identity.
• Identities are linked to land and tradition including First Nations, Metis, francophones, European settlers, and immigrants.
• Canadian values include respecting rights and freedoms, and following responsibilities.

Canadian Values

• Equality, freedom, peace, law and order, ancestry, heritage, and multiculturalism are values.

Canadian Rights

• The right to vote.
• The right to run for office.
• The right to apply for a Canadian passport.
• The right to not be restricted from working in different provinces.
• Canadians have responsibilities to agree to respect equality rights for all.
• Discrimination and injustice must be eliminated.
• Canadians must protect the environment.
• Canadians must work together to support beliefs and values, such as pluralism.

Pluralism

• Pluralism is the existence of different types of people, beliefs, values, and lifestyles within the same society.

Mass Media

• Mass media refers to various means of communication, and includes books, newspapers, TV shows, films, music, social media.
• Media can reinforce stereotypes, which are biased generalizations, such as all Canadians love hockey, maple syrup and the word "eh".

Consumerism

• Consumerism is buying goods, products and services.
• Consumerism includes the belief that happiness is found in buying goods.
• Increased consumption of good helps the economy.

Advertising

• Advertising is paid promotion of goods or services by the business that produces them.
• Advertising can motivate people to try new things.
• A fad is popular for only a short time.
• A trend begins slow, takes time to gain momentum, and has greater staying power.

Pop Culture

• Pop culture is the culture of ordinary people, and includes film, music, literature, fashion, technology, and slang.

Protecting Culture

• Safeguarding cultural elements integral to the nation's identity is how culture is protected.
• Requiring media such as radio and television stations to stream Canadian content is an example.

Promoting Culture

• Actively encouraging and showcasing the nation's diverse abilities and cultural expressions.
• Supporting local artists, musicians, writers, and filmmakers through grants, awards, and exposure is how culture is promoted.
• Assimilation, segregation and integration occur when different cultures meet.
• Assimilation happens when a cultured group adopts the language, values, attitudes, and traditions of a dominant culture.
• Segregation happens when cultural groups lose their own identity and separate from one another.
• Integration happens when cultural groups preserve aspects of their own culture while still adopting parts of a dominant culture.

Multiculturalism

• Canada's official policy of multiculturalism affirms the government promote the heritage of Canadian society.
• Canada was the first country in the world to enshrine multiculturalism policy in legislation in 1988.
• The Canadian government aims to have various cultures get along through multiculturalism and integration.