Week 6: Child Identity Development and Justice

 

Is our identity born of uncontrollable internal factors, or does the environment shape our self-image as children, and later, who we believe we are as adults? This seemingly ever-present question is one that sociologists, philosophers, psychologists, and intellectuals across the board have been considering for many years. The film Identity Crisis: Self-image in Childhood, investigates this exact question, and seems to conclude, seemingly positively, that a child’s surroundings make all the difference when it comes to constructing self-image. For students contemplating the juvenile justice system, the case made in the film has many important implications. Here I will discuss some of the specifics of the film, including aspects of identity formation and development that the documentary poses as influencing youth’s perceptions of social characteristics, their own potential, and their likelihood of engaging in criminal activity.

The documentary unfolded to present the argument that factors such as a child’s family’s economic position, views about physical appearance and attributes (including gender and ethnicity), and familial relationships and friendships influence a child’s self-image. One of the most significant points made within the documentary, was the weight that a child’s socio-economic position has on a child’s growth. In the film, the audience is introduced to James, who is being raised by his mother. James’ mother lives in constant fear of her ex-boyfriend, and must rely on government assistance to escape her situation. The only stability availably to James remains in the positive experience of being at school. When asked to differentiate between the family living in a large, stately house and a smaller shabby house, James demonstrated that he believed rich, good people lived in the nicer house and that the smaller house belonged to poor people. When asked about what the child living in each of the houses would like to be when they grew up, James responded: “Umm, I don’t know yet” (Identity Crisis: Self-Image in Childhood, 2005). Just as the researchers posited, it seems that socioeconomic factors certainly influence a child’s perception about their future and of their own potential. Particularly in James’ cases, which was one marked by uncertainty of a home, with broken family ties and with a parent who was uncertain of her own future, it seems quite apparent that James has been influenced by his surroundings, and that those influences reflect directly on his own self-image.

Next, I would like to discuss the aspect of physical appearance associated with body image. It was surprising, or at least unexpected, to hear that a child’s body image was so greatly impacted by their parents’ own body image; but from Rebecca’s story, and because I felt I could relate through my own experience, I am persuaded to believe it is the case that even at such a young age, we acquire meanings and learn to judge our own body and how food can have such an influence through how our parents view themselves. If this is the case with food and body image, it seems possible that how parents conduct themselves and view themselves can have great impact on how a child might conduct and view themselves. I think this point was even made in the case of William, as presented through the film, who we are told, is a replica of his father.  

On another point relating to physical appearance and attributes, the film also illustrated how race and gender play a role in constructing identity. We’re introduced to Tyrese:

“I think Tyrese will have a harder time than some of the other children—yes, because he’s black. But also because he’s a black male. And because he’s dyslexic. So he’s got a lot of things stacked against him”  (Identity Crisis: Self-Image in Childhood, 2005).

 On his mother’s view, race and gender greatly factor into the shaping of Tyrese’s identity by raising some of the obstacles that come with being a certain race and gender. According to the film, children who are four and five years old already know much about race, ethnicity and the stereotypes attached to them, so it is important for parents, teachers, guardians, etc to work to challenge such stereotypes. Tyrese’s mom, Marie, demonstrates this, by exposing Tyrese to subjects and knowledge associated with black history. And it seems that by the case study involving Tyrese, Marie’s efforts have worked: he was the only black child to chose (from the pictures of a white, black, Hispanic and Asian child) to play with another black child. So what kinds of implications do positive perceptions of race have for child identity development? When I saw the example of Tyrese and of the case study he was associated with, I remembered an example in my own childhood, of when I could relate. My brother (who resembled my light-skinned mom with German in her background), would always say my sisters and I (who resembled my tan-skinned dad who was Mexican) that he was “four drops German” and that we were only one drop German. Looking back now, I think of it as a silly story; but when I was a child, his expression truly seemed to impact my views of what was better—and of exclusivity. There doesn’t seem to exist a definitive answer, but it would appear that having a positive perception of one’s own race and ethnicity seems to affect our sense of belonging.

 On the whole, I found that I agreed with most of the points made throughout the film. The information presented in the documentary was well-argued and illustrated, and I was made to see how socioeconomic disposition, physical image and appearances and familial relationships and friendships influenced a child’s self image.

“For four year olds, gender is so fluid, it’s better to stick with the rules: rigidity” ((Identity Crisis: Self-Image in Childhood, 2005).

What I thought was quite interesting as well was the film’s findings about gender and appearance: mainly that children didn’t know too much about it, and so their opinions on it were influenced by ‘rigid’ norms of what a girl looks like and does, and what a boy looks like and does. But the film questioned the way children differentiated between appearance and gender, and marked it as flawed. So this brought me to a question of my own, and that is, what’s the difference between how a child cognizes gender and appearance and other factors like economic class? I think in most ways, rigid norms govern the way children condition their opinions and views of external people and things, and of their own identity. So, as the film mentions, it is our obligation to challenge those norms and stereotypes that children pick up.

In that vein, I think it might be beneficial to dig deeper into the research of child cognition, and also how we might best challenge those norms and stereotypes we pick up as children. How do we teach a child to think critically about their environment, and to challenge their assumptions without jeopardizing their own identity—including constructing a positive self-image and their likelihood of engaging in criminal activity.

Work Cited
Identity Crisis: Self-Image in Childhood. Films Media Group, 0. Films On Demand. Web. Accessed on 28 February 2011. <http://digital.films.com.ezproxy1.lib.asu.edu/PortalPlaylists.aspx?aid=12280&xtid=>.