I think this is probably more relevant to people in countries mainly composed of diaspora populations (like the US or Canada). So I'm curious about others' thoughts about cultural (mainly ethnic) identities and the degree to which individuals give them significance.
I'm considered Asian American, and it's pretty interesting to see how people from similar backgrounds reckon their identities. What's also interesting is seeing the dynamics between people from an ethnic homeland and their diaspora. And that dynamic might be one source of an identity crisis which seems to be a common theme among Asian Americans who grew up in America (i.e, people questioning if they're American or Korean, etc).
But overall, I think there's a lot ambiguity in how we conceptualize cultural identities.
Adding to the confusion is how ethnic identities are also regarded as nationalities. Like people in Ireland might have a different interpretation of "Irishness" than that of an Irish American. I've a feeling that may be common across most diasporas. And it prompts me to ask the question "Who has the ultimate authority or say on who belongs to a culture or an ethnicity?" The homeland? A DNA site? Your grandparents?
Personally, I think it's an individual's prerogative to claim their heritage, no matter where they grew up. But for me, I also feel that ethnic identities themselves can be transient things subject to change and even interpretation, and too much fixation over them can be unhealthy at times. If someone were to ask me "what Asian are you?", I'd just say that's a meaningless question to me since I'm culturally removed from my immediate ancestors, and my ancestry is essentially a series of people who moved from one place to another, so ethnic identity isn't some absolute aspect for me.
I'm considered Asian American, and it's pretty interesting to see how people from similar backgrounds reckon their identities. What's also interesting is seeing the dynamics between people from an ethnic homeland and their diaspora. And that dynamic might be one source of an identity crisis which seems to be a common theme among Asian Americans who grew up in America (i.e, people questioning if they're American or Korean, etc).
But overall, I think there's a lot ambiguity in how we conceptualize cultural identities.
Adding to the confusion is how ethnic identities are also regarded as nationalities. Like people in Ireland might have a different interpretation of "Irishness" than that of an Irish American. I've a feeling that may be common across most diasporas. And it prompts me to ask the question "Who has the ultimate authority or say on who belongs to a culture or an ethnicity?" The homeland? A DNA site? Your grandparents?
Personally, I think it's an individual's prerogative to claim their heritage, no matter where they grew up. But for me, I also feel that ethnic identities themselves can be transient things subject to change and even interpretation, and too much fixation over them can be unhealthy at times. If someone were to ask me "what Asian are you?", I'd just say that's a meaningless question to me since I'm culturally removed from my immediate ancestors, and my ancestry is essentially a series of people who moved from one place to another, so ethnic identity isn't some absolute aspect for me.