Does Culture Define a Person? The Crucible of Identity

Culture plays an essential role in shaping our identity, values, beliefs, and behaviors. However, it is not the sole defining factor of an individual. Culture encompasses the customs, traditions, language, and social norms of a group, influencing how we perceive the world, interact with others, and understand our place in society. While personal experiences such as family background, education, and personal relationships also significantly shape our identity, culture remains a critical component. Intersectionality, the idea that people belong to multiple cultural groups simultaneously, such as ethnicity, religion, and nationality, further complicates our identity. Nonetheless, individuals have the capacity to choose how they engage with their culture, whether by embracing their cultural heritage or challenging and redefining it based on personal beliefs and experiences. The dynamic nature of culture, driven by globalization, migration, and technological change, also means that our relationship with our culture can change throughout our lives.

Cultural Superpower: The Power of Self-Agency

As a strong believer in the power of self-agency, I see culture as a superpower that can shape our unique roles in society and help us understand our individual niches. We are not simply products of our environment but rather cultural apes who have the ability to learn and evolve in both slow and rapid ways. Cultural evolution has allowed entire nations to remain intact and thrive, even through inevitable trials and tribulations. However, it can also lead to negative outcomes if the wrong cultural lessons are absorbed, such as joining cults or making poor choices.

Cultural learning is a superpower that is not just inherent but must be actively cultivated. It takes place through face-to-face interactions, meaningful two-way exchanges, not in passive, impersonal settings where students sit in rows and columns. It involves a full-sensory approach and collaboration, rather than solitary, hermetic isolation. By actively engaging with our culture, we can hone our unique roles in society and contribute positively to our communities.

Public Education: A Tool for Cultural Suppression or Empowerment

Public education plays a crucial role in our cultural development. However, it is also a tool for cultural suppression, aimed at preventing individuals from gaining superpowers that could compete with those in power. The crucible in which we form these superpowers is entirely cultural, and efforts to stop the blossoming of human superpowers by public education systems are a form of cultural control. This is not about ensuring that everyone remains at the same level, but about preventing individuals from using their cultural superpowers to advance themselves and others.

The Malleability of Culture

Culture is not static and does not exist in a vacuum. It evolves over time due to factors such as globalization, migration, and technological change. This means that our relationship with our culture is not fixed but can change as we grow and experience new things. It is a dynamic process that requires us to continually engage with and redefine our culture. Whether we embrace our cultural heritage or challenge and reframe it, we are participating in the ongoing evolution of our cultural identity. This ongoing process of cultural engagement allows us to shape our unique roles in society and contribute to the continuous growth and development of our communities.