My first year students of the College of International Relations’ Global Studies Program Spring 2019, who stem from twelve different countries, worked hard for one year obtaining important academic skills that will launch them forward into their academic paths. Below I compiled a summary of their thoughts on personhood, identity, culture and society.

Global Studies Academic Skills Spring 2019

What does it mean to contemplate upon one’s identity within society? Various philosophers and thinkers, including Emile Durkheim, C. Wright Mills, Erving Goffman, Karl Marx, Benedict Anderson, Jürgen Habermas, and others have presented a glimpse of selves within society such as individual and collective identity, the structure of society, agency, culture as a map of meaning, sociological imagination as the intersection of history and biography, identification and interpellation, race and discrimination, and multiculturalism, to name a few. Encountering some of these theories, it is overwhelming and simultaneously astonishing how our nature is manipulated by society. We are creatures who are driven to spend the vast majority of our lifetime “killing” our identity amongst the constraints of the society to secure our positions. Basically, many theories tell us that the identity of a person is not constructed by the individuals themselves, but by society. And it seems that each individual has little or no agency to resist the constraints of society due to the fear of isolation. But is this true? Is an individual’s identity simply managed and manipulated by society? Do individuals act only within the constraints of society, and do people have little or no agency to construct their own identities or create their own destinies?

Social movements within Japanese society tell another story – they reveal moments where people have resisted their socially constructed identities. For instance, the Nikkei-Brazilians in Japan broke out from the assumptions that they were racially homogenous to the Japanese by forming their own community and emphasizing their Brazilian-ness through language, custom, and culture; the marriage migrants in Yamagata prefecture had challenged their conventional stereotypes as passive victims who need help to become active agents who can make a contribution to spread multiculturalism in the community; and the “tōjisha” movement by Japan’s LGBT community introduced people who claimed human rights and legislation for lesbians, gays, transgender, and bisexuals. At first glimpse the constraints from society seem to minimize individual agency to construct one's own unique identity. However, regardless of the constraints, people display agency by opposing what society dictates, elucidating each person’s unique life story that empowers an individual to resist and break free from the constraints of society to make it a better place.

The understanding of identity in different social contexts is important for every individual in the world to make sense of who they are and where they belong. Through examining the origin of identity formation, it also becomes clear how discrimination and marginalization can be formed and how individuals, communities and societies can encounter these issues in a contemporary world where a growing number of marginalized citizens and non-citizens try to position themselves. Why do human beings form communities and seek a sense of belonging? Perhaps the underlying driving force is fear – human beings are afraid of being social outcasts and feel helpless in a competitive and ever-changing society. Seeking identity then may be in response to social transitions and challenges. But also identity and belonging are sought because of a desire to find a place within society.

To be continued next week.

Photo Credit: (fauxels@pexels.com)

Some people call them ‘Hawaiian shirts’ but the correct name is Aloha Shirt.

They are considered formal wear in Hawaii and many people wear them to work every day. There are many kinds of styles and materials used to make them. Actually, the first Aloha shirts were made of silk. Now, they are made of cotton, polyester, rayon, and silk. One signature feature of many of the ‘Aloha Shirts’ is that the main printed side of the material is not facing outside like most shirts but facing the inside to give a more subtle, relaxed look.

The designs on the Aloha shirts reflect the scenes and the aspects of Hawaii that make it a tropical paradise. Patterns in the fabrics range from various themes and motifs, and the colors range the gamut of all the colors on a palette. Popular styles include the famous landmarks in Hawaii, such as Diamond Head, Waikiki, or beautiful mountain ranges to ocean vistas. Others display natural beauty famous in Hawaii, such as pineapples, palm trees, surfers on waves, fish, flowers, and other flora or fauna. Also, prints from ‘tapa’ cloth, or the traditional Hawaiian clothes, are popular along with prints of the royal family of Hawaii, the Kamehameha monarchy.

In the US, there is a business trend called ‘Casual Friday’. Have you heard of it before? It is where, the company allows its workers to wear more ‘casual’ clothes like jeans or relaxed collared shirts to work on Fridays. Actually, ‘Casual Friday’ or ‘Aloha Friday’ in Hawaii, was started in Hawaii. Aloha shirt makers lobbied politicians and business leaders to allow aloha shirts to be worn to work on Fridays, which better matched the tropical weather of Hawaii compared to suits and ties.

I like Aloha Shirts because I like the relaxed designs and I feel I can bring a piece of Hawaii to the students I meet. Did you know that in Hawaiian, Aloha has many meanings? It can mean, “Hello” or “Good-bye” or “Welcome” or “Love/I love you.” If you break the word down, the literal meaning is ‘Alo’ means ‘facing or the presence of’ and ‘ha’ means ‘breath’. So, having the Aloha Spirit means having a care for oneself and sharing that warmth from your insides with others, without expecting anything in return. Please talk to me about Aloha shirts more the next time you see me and I will be happy to share more about what it means to have the Aloha Spirit.