Sacrifice and Identity

“Belonging to a group always involves sacrificing aspects of one’s identity” Identity is the set of behavioral or personal characteristics by which an individual is recognizable as a member of a group. Each people have their own personality, being different and unique from other people. Even though it’s different, each people have some similarity with others that connected them together as a community or a group. However, these groups is not open for all people, some people have to sacrifice their aspects of identity in order to belong to the group that they want to join. For some groups, belonging does require sacrificing individual identity and this occurs when the groups are the dominant and require the identity of the group to be stronger than the individual, this is when people identify themselves primarily as a member of this group. However, when an individual is part of a group because their family is part of it or for other reasons such as to fulfill their dream, belonging can assist in forming individual identity or contribute to it as an integral part.

This can be seen in Gattaca. Vincent gave his best to accomplish his dream, which is going into the space, which made him to force himself to join the group and work in Gattaca. This at then end, lead to a successful dream for Vincent. From the moment of birth, every individual becomes a member of a group even though they have not yet developed the capacity for choice. As we grow and develop, this capacity is exercised as we choose to belong to certain groups that reflect our growing identity. However, whether the groups an individual belong to are enforced or chosen, when physically in them, an individual is often identified as a part of this group and as such their individual identity is sacrificed. However, just as belonging to a group can overtake individual identity causing it to be sacrificed or compromised, so too do they contribute to who a person is. And when an individual stands alone, the groups they belong to actually contribute to and even increase their individual identity rather than causing it to be sacrificed.

There are some groups that none of us has any choice in whether we belong to them or not. Factors such as gender, ethnicity, family and even social status are at birth, groups that we belong to, yet cannot choose, and many of these endure throughout life. Although family, religious beliefs and even social status can be altered in later life, all of these groups are ones that are integral to an individual’s identity and in fact add it in life. However, as a child their influence is perhaps even more important as in these formative years one’s gender, culture, family and even religion actively create individual identity. As we grow as develop as individuals we begin to make choices about where we want to find belonging. This can be seen in choices as minor as belonging to a football club or friendship group, to more life-altering choices such as being a member of a political party or protest group such as Green peace.

As individuals make such choices they do not sacrifice their identities, but rather work to increase and from their ever-changing sense of self. Such choices can also be made after life-altering circumstances, such as when people feel a need to join victim’s group or support groups when they or a loved one contract a chronic or terminal illness. Statement of Intention: This essay is written in formal form with the topics of identity and belonging. With this piece of writing, the audience that I’m targeting is teenager until mid-30 age, where those people still developing and growing their identity. This essay is giving information and describing on how individual’s identity could change as they get involved in the community or group. The context in this essay is to tell the reader about the fact of individual’s identity.