What makes a characteristic become an identity?

Kanchan Chandra’s What is Ethnic Identity and Does it Matter? explores factors which qualify ethnic qualities to be a part of an identity. Chandra discusses ethnicities which may falsely represent an identity as well as ethnic characteristics which commonly contribute to an identity. 

Gendering Comparative Politics by Teri Calaway describes the workings of the Comparative Politics of Gender (CPG). The journal outlines the independent and dependent variables that CPG scholars utilize. It also emphasizes the importance of CPG and argues what should change in the field of CPG for proper recognition and impact. Calaway’s work clearly analyzes the reality that gender plays a key role in politics which should be further understood.

I enjoyed the Chandra piece far more than Calaway’s; however, I learned more from Calaway. Chandra’s writing involved several case studies about different ethnic groups which demonstrate how ethnicity can contribute to identity. She features the story of American Jews, for example, which discusses how Americans who do not know Jewish rituals but come from Jewish ancestry may identify as an American Jew. Calaway’s work was more enlightening. Her writing lacked the engaging stories featured in What is Ethnic Identity and Does it Matter?. Calaway focuses on CPG in the world of academia which is something I had no exposure to. In fact, she convinced me of the need for more focus on CPG at universities. She mentions that CPG work is not often published in top political science journals. I now believe there is a need for more CPG literature in political science departments. 

After having read Chandra and Calaway, I now shall attempt to answer the question: what makes a characteristic become an identity?. Chandra mentions that ethnic characteristics can contribute to identities. Yet there are some ethnic characteristics which could add to an individual’s identity and have no impact on another individual’s. In the case of the non-practicing American Jew, the individual makes a personal choice as to whether his Jewish ancestry contributes to his or her identity. Perhaps the individual possesses Jewish objects, eats Jewish food, or appreciates highly accomplished Jews due to family culture. Maybe none of these possibilities are the case. Despite no knowledge or exposure to Jewish culture, the individual still identifies as a Jew solely as a commitment to family history. I believe there must be a reason that the individual identifies as a Jew because identities are inherently not arbitrary things. Thus, Chandra’s work demonstrates that a characteristic becomes an identity due to a combination of sentimental, cultural, ethnic, and behavioral reasons. 

It is ironic that in a piece which discusses gender identities in politics that Caraway seemingly fights for more inclusion of CPG in the identity of political science. She argues that gender plays a substantial impact on political matters which should receive more attention from political scientists. This notion demonstrates that the quantifiable impact of something will determine whether a characteristic becomes an identity. Another inherent characteristic of politicians is their hair. I do not believe that hair color or hairstyle plays a significant impact on politics. However, hair color or hairstyle could in theory contribute to the identity of a person or group of people. People with mohawks may identify with their hair. Former NBA player Brian Scalabrine identified with his ginger hair due to the lack of gingers in the NBA. The impact of a characteristic because of rarity, quantity, or inherent value will determine whether a characteristic becomes an identity.

At the end of the day, a lot of characteristics become a part of an identity at the discretion of the individual or group. Characteristics become an identity when they are necessary to the function or representation of oneself.

Brian Scalabrine: "The White Mamba"