Each of us is characterized in two ways. Our belonging to a group or community is revealed by social traits. But also by more specific individual traits. The first traits define a person’s social identity. This is expressed in relation to other non-member groups. The individual sees themselves as identical to other people in their surroundings. But also has a specific aspect of this ‘we’ compared to members of other groups. This is what characterizes social identity.
The more an individual identifies with a group of people, the more this group differentiates itself from others. Diversity and multitude strengthen the group’s personality. The origins of collective identities are built within these communal identity forms. Feelings of belonging such as culture and nation are very important. Not to mention temporary social ties with family, work, and religion, which encompass these societal identities. Thus, a double exchange is created between the individual and the group.
On one hand, each person belongs to a social group that provides them with multiple resources for identification. On the other hand, the group in question cannot exist without the disparity of entities that make it up. During the feudal era, the word “identity” was used to express conformity to the group. It allows the individual to find their place in the system and to be socially perceived.
Many functions are defined by an individual. The latter must fulfill them within the groups they belong to. The notion of identity is closely associated with social structure. It is defined by the individual’s affiliations in society. New social movements are formed by identity ideologies aiming to build a distinct identity. The decrease in class and professional identities is the origin of work-related divergences. In exchange, protest plays a major role in the construction of certain collective identities.
