Main identity variables
 

There are several key factors that make up the bulk an individual's identity. Some can be changed and adopted, others are not optional but just who you are.

Nationality, religion and political beliefs are the most obvious ones.

Gender/sexuality: pretty obvious.
Music taste: this is important as it often affects other areas such as fashion and perhaps even political persuasion.
Socio-economic status: which may be more important in some nations than others.
Age/generation: As always there is currently a gap between young and old, the 'digital natives' and those who try and switch the microwave on with a TV remote control.

What others are there?

I can think of these...

Social cliques (goths, hipsters, emos, jocks, etc).

Race/Ethnicity (Race and Ethnicity seems to play a really big role in how people identify, especially in very racially diverse places like the U.S.)

Regional upbringing (differences within a nation). An American that grew up in California is going to different to an American that grew up in Texas and in turn they'll be different from an American that was raised in Florida and a lot of Americans identify by their region, I think things are similar in a lot other countries.

Language

I read some quote where someone said when they speak another language its like watching TV in black and white. But when you speak your own language or one you know well it is like watching HDTV in full color. http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...ies/tongue.gif

Definitely language. Person's mother tongue is a huge part of him/her.

I've always been Class conscious; so social class is very important and "cultural tastes" are part of this affiliation (as Bourdieu said).

Language is important but only in countries, or cultural spheres where it is an issue. In homogenous countries, language is not that important.

Race; while important, is less so than social class or cultural differences.

Then you have psychological profile... people tend to gather with other people with the same level of introverson/extraversion.

Music was a big one growing up as a teenager where I'm from. Back then music affiliations were assigned to terms like 'goth', 'skater', 'skate punk', 'punk', 'raver', 'yo-boy' (also for all the white kids in the burbs who tried hard to immitate hardcore inner city thug culture 'wiggas'). More dated by my teenage years were terms like 'headbanger', and 'grit'.

Terms that are foreign to me now and describe today's youth:

'hipster'
'emo'

but my favorite was witnessing the rise of the term 'hessian'. Not quite sure what is 'Proto-Hessian' but it may or may not involve a mullet from what I've heard.

One sub culture identity that is everlasting in the states:

'Redneck': some feel this denotes an actual ethnicity now

More local and traditional in regards to where I'm from are 'watermen'. These are the crabbers, and fisherman who exploit the resources of the Bay and have been doing it since the 1700's. Its a dying lifestyle and breed. Very local, regional designation.

Great example of an old occupational identity.

Language
dialect
sub-dialect

looks (phenotypes), race.

Red neck is real ethnicity. They have special scholarships for hillbilly and they are part of minority program at some colleges.

I've heard its now considered fairly widely an ethnicity but seriously one can get a scholarship now for being that?

Ya I am from Ohio. Hillbilly is in minority office at college.

Well I'll be. Though I heard on 'Family Guy' the PC term for Hillbilly is country music star.http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...ilies/wink.gif

I don't mean to offend anyone. Whenever they do programs here they say the minorities are Black, Asian, Hispanic, Appalachian but my friend uses both names for herself.

Education!

And don't forget there is behavior too.

I was just making a joke. No big deal.http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...ilies/wink.gif

Racial likeness is the best identity.