How am I Socially Constructed?

Many factors contribute to a person's social identity or construction.  Some factors are more noticeable than others.  In her talk, Aimee Mullins how her legs affect her social construction and identity.  There are some factors that can be controlled and some that cannot be controlled at all.  When I think about the way I am socially constructed I think about three factors:  skin color, social class, and faith.

Almost anyone with white skin is in the majority in most cases and unintentionally has a better chance of landing higher on the social ladder, especially in the south where I am from.  My skin color also affords me better opportunities than others.  However, unlike some people of the same race I still work hard and do not take the opportunities for granted.

Another factor closely associated with skin color is social class.  Society identifies me as upper-middle class individual.  This did not just come overnight.  Both of my parents worked hard and earned professional degrees after college.  Because of my social class and my parents' financial standing I am able to enjoy opportunities others do not have, solely based on finances.

A final factor that is more important to me than any of the others is my faith.  I am follower of Jesus Christ or a "Christian" as society calls us.  This identity might actually hurt me.  Christians do not have the best reputation in society.  We are viewed a ignorant, self-righteous, and better than everyone else.  I'll be the first to admit I'm not perfect.  None of us are.

People think we like to spend our time with others just like us because we think we are better than everybody else.  This is simply not true.  I have many friends who do not follow Jesus and I love them just as they are because at the end of the day Jesus loves me just the way I am.  If everyone would sit down and listen I think we would learn that Christians and non-Christians are not that much different from each other in our weaknesses.

So many things can shape and influence a person's social identity.  Some we can choose for ourselves while there are others we cannot.  There are some factors that are more important to some than others.  In many cases the factors we think about the least are the ones that shape us the most.