When we first looked at the process
of developing identity we viewed this topic through three different
focuses. These approaches were
categorized as social science, interpretive, and critical. These three approaches all vary slightly in
how identity is defined and processed. For
this cultural reporter project on Hispanic Women I have chosen to use the
interpretive approach because I feel this view on forming identity will be
easier for interviewees to understand and relate to the questions I present
them with. “It emphasizes that
identities are negotiated, co-created, reinforced, and challenged through
communication with others…(Martin and Nakayama pg.174).” The interpretive approach thinks of identity
as a dynamic process that can be constantly changed via communication with
other individuals. Part of this comes
through the processes of avowal and ascription.
Avowal is the process by which an individual see themselves and
ascription is the process by which individuals give others an identity (Martin
and Nakayama pg. 174). A good example of
these processes is the relationship between a parent and child. A parent may view themselves as a fair and
caring adult but the child may see a parent as a harsh and overprotective
family member. While this example is
more on the extreme is does show the difference between avowal and
ascription. Another important part of
the interpretive approach is the use of core symbols. Core symbols are fundamental ideas that are
shared by members of a specific cultural group (Martin and Nakayama
pg.175). For example, Freedom would be a
core symbol shared by American citizens.
All Americans can relate to the concept of Freedom and it is an idea
shared by the entire American population. These three concepts help define the
interpretive approach that will be used for this project.
The
interpretive approach can be used to understand Hispanic Women because language
and speaking is such a large part of any culture. Core symbols will be a big part in
understanding how Hispanic Women think about themselves and what beliefs that
they share in common. It will be
particularly interesting to hear comments and stories about quincenearas. In regarding language as a whole, figuring
out different sayings or different slang used in Spanish will also help in
defining the identity of Hispanic Women.
The ascription and avowal concepts will also be heavily applied into
learning how the identity of Hispanic Women is formed. For example, one research participant can
identify with both American and Hispanic identities and it will be exciting to
see how they categorize their identity in their own eyes and how they feel
others see them as well.
(Jennifer Lopez, a Hispanic American Woman)
For my
data collection I have three routes that I am going to take in order to acquire
the necessary data to make a report.
First, one of my co-workers in the Admissions department is part Mexican
and has agreed to do a sit down interview with me where I could record our
conversation. What is the biggest
difference between speaking English and Spanish and do you identify yourself as
a Hispanic Women are some of the questions that I plan to ask my co-worker. I have been in contact with MASA, the Mexican
American Student Association, here at the university and I am hoping they will
either let me record another interview or let me observe an event or meeting
that they will be having soon. The final
method of data collection I have is going through interviews and research of
prominent Hispanic Women in today’s culture.
Jennifer Lopez, Salma Hayek and Eva Longoria all have had some sort of
interviews conducted on the topic of
their heritage and there are a lot of reading materials on Hispanic women that
I have found on the internet as well as in the library.
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