Concept Of Identity Research Articles

Discrimination experiences of transgender individuals in healthcare: an interview study on the perspective of health professionals specializing in the treatment of transgender individuals

BackgroundExperiences of discrimination in healthcare lead to poorer mental and physical health for transgender individuals. There is evidence that trans-specialists, i.e. health professionals specializing in transgender care, are an important source of discrimination experienced by transgender individuals in healthcare. In this qualitative interview study, we explored the reasons for this possibly surprising finding by analyzing subjective views of trans-specialists on various issues related to discrimination of transgender individuals.MethodsWe conducted 20 semi-structured, qualitative, exploratory interviews with healthcare professionals specializing in transgender care. Interview questions were developed based on an extensive literature analysis and results of previous research on the topic. The interviews were conducted online, were digitally recorded and transcribed. Data analysis was conducted using the methods of content analysis and thematic analysis.ResultsThe interviewees had great difficulty giving a consistent definition of the concept of gender identity. Most of them saw it as a self-determination of a transgender individual. Although herewith emphasizing the autonomy of transgender individuals, most trans-specialists felt that they had to be convinced of their patient’s transsexuality to carry out treatment. Most trans-specialists reported having had doubts about whether some transgender individuals were suffering from gender incongruence or not. There was also ambiguity among interviewees about whether transsexuality is a mental illness.ConclusionsWe were able to identify specific topics that can cause discrimination experiences on the part of transgender individuals in their contact with trans-specialists. These include the vagueness of the construct of gender identity and the ambivalence between respect for the autonomy of transgender individuals and the validation of the diagnosis “transsexuality”. Also, uncertainties regarding the classification of transsexuality as a mental illness can lead to experiences of discrimination. Furthermore, our results imply that trans-specialists might remember own discriminatory behavior less than it actually took place. Our results can contribute to the development of specific measures to avoid discrimination experiences of transgender individuals in contact with trans-specialists. These should include a reflection on one’s own gender identity and training on mechanisms of discrimination.

Personal Identity Matters

Abstract This article considers whether process philosophy can provide a more promising basis for understanding the closely related problems of persons and personal identity than more traditional or mainstream philosophical approaches. In particular, the article focuses on whether process conceptions of persons and personal identity provide an approach that offers greater potential for resolving the duplication and fission examples within the literature in this area than the approaches taken by Bernard Williams and Derek Parfit.

The concept of personality and national identity in contemporary Kazakh prose

Colonialism has had a profoundly negative impact on national consciousness. Although the Republic of Kazakhstan has gained independence, it has not yet fully overcome the adverse effects of colonialism on its national consciousness. A portion of the Kazakh people has been Russified. Meanwhile, the younger generation, raised in their native language, either lacks a deep understanding of or is gradually forgetting the foundations of national identity that date back to ancient times. During the Soviet era, communist ideology prevented the population from truly knowing their history, traditions, and beliefs. In this context, literature plays a crucial role in reviving national memory. This article examines the concept of personality in literary works and the uniqueness of national identity based on the works of several contemporary authors. The introduction provides an overview of researchers’ conclusions related to the concept of personality. The ancient origins of national identity—sacred elements, rituals, shamanism, and the mystical connections between humans, nature, and animals—as depicted in literary works are analyzed within the dynamics of the present day, alongside the fates of the characters. The desecration of sacred elements is not merely ignorance but a sign of the erasure of national memory; rituals are not just words but embody sacred concepts accumulated from centuries of the people’s experience, which are reflected in the works. Accordingly, the research article analyzes and provides examples from several literary works. In compiling conclusions about the concept of personality, the study utilized descriptive, biographical, and socio-psychological methods to describe national identity in literary works and its ancient manifestations, as well as the depiction of sacred elements and rituals.

Body of Mine, Yours, and Everyone in Between: Communicating Gender Dysphoria Through Immersive Storytelling

<div><span>This article explores the potential of new, immersive realities to convey the complex experiences of gender dysphoria and body dissatisfaction, using the innovative and multi-award-winning experience <em>Body of Mine</em> as a case study. Recognizing a gap in understanding and empathy towards gender-queer communities, <em>Body of Mine</em> employs an innovative full-body tracking solution to place users into the body of someone else, combined with first-person documentary interviews and interactive elements aimed at fostering a deeper connection and insight into the transgender experience. Initial feedback from users indicates a heightened awareness and emotional connection to the challenges faced by individuals with gender dysphoria, as well as an increase in self-body positivity, based on a study conducted in collaboration with the University of Tübingen’s Department of Psychology. This project underscores the power of immersive storytelling in fostering embodied understanding, while also acknowledging the ethical complexities and voyeuristic risks when sharing narratives from vulnerable communities, and explores innovative methods for tackling social issues through emerging technology. It concludes by contemplating the implications of immersive technologies for the concept of identity in a world that increasingly transcends the physical body, suggesting a future where the notion of self is not confined to physical form but is fluid, multifaceted, and continually redefined within boundless digital horizons.</span></div>

Constitutional Identity Between Riga and Strasbourg: The Courts’ Dialogue Developing Latvian Constitutional Law

The article provides insight into the recent development of the concept of constitutional identity in the Latvian legal system. The authors mainly focus on the dialogue between the national highest courts, especially the Constitutional Court, and the European Court of Human Rights and the Court of Justice of the European Union, concerning the concept of constitutional identity. In recent years, both supranational courts have dealt with cases involving various aspects of Latvia’s constitutional identity and the respected constitutional values, norms, and principles that define it, as well as the relevant jurisprudence of the national highest courts. The case study of Latvia demonstrates that it is possible to guarantee a harmonious approach to implementing constitutional identity in light of the state’s international obligations as a member of the European Union and the Convention on Human Rights.

Evolving National Identity in Korea (2012–2021) and Implications for Social Sustainability

National identity in Korea has undergone significant changes in recent years, reflecting broader shifts in social and political landscapes. Traditionally rooted in ethnocultural and ethnic frameworks, the concept of national identity is increasingly influenced by civic and pluralistic values, reflecting Korea’s growing diversity and globalization. This study aims to explore the transformation of national identity in Korea between 2012 and 2021 and its implications for social sustainability, with particular attention paid to Sustainable Development Goal 16. Using latent class analysis, this research examines survey data collected from Korean adults over the specified period. The analysis reveals a decline in ethnocultural and ethnic identities, with a corresponding rise in civic-oriented and flexible identity groups, such as Non-Territorial Ethnocultural Civic, Pluralistic, and Territorial-Cultural groups. These new categories illustrate a more complex understanding of national belonging, shaped by multiple dimensions. The results suggest that this evolving identity landscape promotes greater inclusivity and adaptability, crucial for fostering long-term social cohesion in a diverse society. The study highlights the need for policies, educational reforms, and media narratives that embrace this dynamic understanding of national identity. The findings offer important insights for policymakers and educators as Korea continues to navigate the challenges of diversity and globalization, ensuring a sustainable social future.

Cultural hybridity and body image formation: exploring the experiences of Wushu male practitioners at the Siberian Chinese Martial Arts Center

This study explores the formation of a hybrid body image among white cisgender males practicing Wushu at the Siberian Chinese Martial Arts Center. Grounded in Social Identity Theory and the concept of bicultural identity, the research employs narrative interviews with 12 participants. Thematic analysis revealed three main themes: the creation of a hybrid identity blending Chinese martial arts traditions with Russian cultural backgrounds, conceptualized as judanren; the challenges associated with this identity in both Russian and Chinese contexts; and the role of Wushu uniforms in reconciling these cultural contradictions, serving as a “second skin” for practitioners. The findings contribute to a more inclusive understanding of body image and identity formation in a multicultural, non-Western context.

Aspirasi Pemuda di Kabupaten Klaten untuk Pendidikan Tinggi sebagai Kerja Generasi dan Konstruksi Identitas

This article qualitatively explores the production processes of higher education aspirations among students and recent graduates of upper-secondary schools in Klaten Regency. Considering the socio-spatial and temporal context, this study examines the dynamics of aspirations in the ‘desakota’ region during the digital era, an area that has been relatively underresearched. Data generation in this study primarily relies on in-depth interviews with eleven participants. Employing the concepts of identity and generations, this study reveals that higher education aspirations are refinements of individual narratives constructed through interactions with adults and peers in educational, familial, and digital settings. Situated in an in-between area, the production process of aspirations among Klaten’s youth reflects an ambiguity as traditional factors collide with values brought by modernity. I propose that aspirations for higher education in this context are both social and individual projects, encompassing not only future, but also present matters through which youth fashion themselves. This mirrors the critics towards developmental approach that frames educational aspirations predominantly as rational decision aimed at achieving upward social mobility.

Revisiting Whitehead’s Abstractive Hierarchy

In Whitehead’s theory of “events”, the primary focus is on the critical assessment of abstraction. Modern science’s heavy reliance on abstraction has resulted in what Whitehead calls “the fallacy of misplaced concreteness”, where the abstract is mistaken for the actual. To address this issue, Whitehead replaces the traditional category of abstraction with eternal objects and defines the abstractive hierarchy. He aims to clarify the metaphysical status of abstraction and concreteness while dissolving their binary opposition. It is important to note that there are two possible approaches for interpreting an abstractive hierarchy. The differences between these approaches stem from the question of whether abstraction and complexity should be considered identical concepts. Based on their respective understandings, the abstractive hierarchy will exhibit different structural features, as well as varying positions for the concepts of abstraction and eternal objects within Whitehead’s metaphysical thought.

Contradição ou contrariedade?

This is a challenge to one of the central interpretational theses that Cirne-Lima defends on Hegel: that we should read "contradiction" as "contrariety". At first, I reconstruct Cirne-Lima's interpretation and raise two critiques: (i) Cirne-Lima ignores the origin of the concept "contradiction" as applied to statements of conceptual identity; (ii) Cirne-Lima only pays attention to one type of incompatibility involved in the "negation" that constitutes contradiction and forgets Hegel's thesis on the “bound return to the ground”. In the final parts of my paper, I discuss the consequences of Cirne-Lima's interpretation. The consequence of (i) is the development of an interpretation that doesn’t regard anything beyond what Hegel calls "external reflection" ("is of predication") and ignores the role of "contradiction" in "inner reflection" ("is of identity"). That of (ii) is the interpretation of "contradiction" as a mere "play of opposites". I suggest that this last constraint is analogous to what Brandom calls "material incompatibility" and completely misses one of the main dimensions of Hegel’s “negative”: self-referential. To support my argument (i) I rely on Pippin's remarks on the Logic of Essence and, in the case of (ii), Bordignon's point that to be self-referential is a constitutive dimension of "determinate negation".

Recognizing Race: Podcasting to Promote Critical Dialogue and Self-Reflection in Multicultural Psychology

Introduction Courses in multicultural psychology can provide content about power, privilege, healing, and resistance, especially as they pertain to race, while presenting space for students to reflect on their own socialization experiences and the role of race in their lives. Statement of Problem Direct, lecture-based approaches to presenting course content on race and racial identity can impede deep reflection and application of the material to students’ lives and their ability to engage across differences. Literature Review Critical dialogue among classroom peers enables students to use the knowledge gained from classroom content to discuss the complexity of race and racism with nuance and depth. Teaching Implications In this article, we describe Recognizing Race, a podcast assignment that scaffolds students’ self-reflection about their racial identity development while facilitating critical racial dialogues between students. Conclusion The Recognizing Race podcast assignment is one that can be used for undergraduate and graduate-level students in multicultural psychology to apply racial identity concepts to increase cultural self-awareness and promote more compassionate and inclusive interactions with others.

Was bleibt: das Vertrauen in die Sprache. Franz Hodjaks neue Gedichte

Abstract This paper examines the persistent evolution of themes and motifs in Franz Hodjak‘s poetry since his literary beginnings, focusing on his latest collection of poems. Hodjak‘s recent works delve into familiar themes such as freedom, existential emptiness, and the absence-defined concepts of identity, homeland, illusions, and freedom. Additionally, these poems address core life aspects like transience, farewell, hope, love, grief, dreams, and happiness. While these themes echo in his earlier works, Hodjak‘s unflinching perspective unveils the interconnectedness and impermanence of the world. The focus of this analysis lies in the enduring trust in language that permeates Hodjak‘s work.

Identity politics and the politics of difference: critical transformations in contemporary thought

This article explores the relationship between identity politics and the politics of difference, focusing especially on the tensions that characterise this relationship within progressive theories and political discourses, and on their implications. The development of the concepts of identity and difference, as well as their limits and possibilities, are examined in relation to several theorists: Slavoj Žižek, Jacques Derrida, Jacques Lacan, Julia Kristeva, Michel Foucault, Cornel West and Judith Butler. This is followed by a discussion of Fromm’s social psychology insofar as it anticipates the growing importance of the concepts of identity and difference within late modern culture, and insofar as it identifies a number of critical concerns around these concepts which remain relevant today.

Depopulating the sky: changing patterns of stellar identification in the Philosophical Transactions

The article provides a quantitative survey of the ways in which individual stars were identified in astronomical articles published in the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London between 1665 and 1829. The great majority of stellar references fall into one or more of the following four categories: figural references (identifying objects as structural parts of constellation figures), proper names, Bayer letters, and catalogue numbers (primarily, Flamsteed numbers). The survey investigates how the quantities and proportions of these referential types changed over time, and what identification patterns each referential type displayed. The results are interpreted under the assumption that the dynamics of the mixture of practices were not only a matter of convenience and increasing practicality, but that they were also tied to underlying transformations in the conceptual identity of fixed stars. The gradual, spontaneous, and unreflected disappearance of figural identifications, and their replacement with references to designated catalogue entries, is tied to a transition from sidereal identity—stars being position markers in the celestial sphere—to stellar identity belonging to spatially distributed physical bodies.

National identity politics and postcolonial sovereignty games: Greenland, Denmark, and the European Union

The relationship between Greenland and the EU is to a great degree influenced by the image of Greenland being on the path towards independence from Denmark. In both countries, identity discourse idealizes the homogenous nation state, leaving the ‘community of the realm’ in need of a good explanation. However, attempts to explain Greenland’s continued reliance on outside help in its development towards independence continuously risk infantilizing the country. As climate changes are establishing the Arctic as a site of mineral extraction and commerce, Greenland is finding new ways of diversifying its dependence. Important in this regard is the way Greenland’s relationship to the EU is played out as a series of ‘sovereignty games’ that minimize Denmark’s role as intermediary. This book looks at changes to national identity discourse and foreign policy through four analytical strategies — identifying the core concepts of Danish and Greenlandic identity through discourse analysis; reading political debates as identity-political negotiations; using qualitative interviews with key actors to see how clashing identity discourses are managed in diplomatic practice; and approaching legal texts as the ‘frozen’ outcome of these ‘sovereignty games’. In conclusion, the book draws up scenarios for how the expiry date of the ‘community of the realm’ may be extended – by finding new metaphors that will facilitate equality, and by employing Danish diplomacy to make Greenland less dependent on Denmark.

Determination of Health Concepts in β-Propeller Protein-Associated Neurodegeneration.

β-Propeller protein-associated neurodegeneration (BPAN) is a rare, X-linked condition caused by pathogenic variants in the WDR45 gene that result in a defect of autophagy. Classified as a disorder of neurodegeneration with brain iron accumulation, β-propeller protein-associated neurodegeneration is associated with severe neurologic impairments. With the anticipation of future therapeutic trials, this project characterizes the family's perspective of the impact of disease and defines Health Concepts (HC).Children with a molecularly confirmed diagnosis of β-propeller protein-associated neurodegeneration were enrolled in a prospective natural history study. We administered the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales-Third Edition and provided health-related quality of life questionnaires to 42 caregivers. Questionnaires included Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory-Generic Core and Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory-Family Impact modules, Caregiver Priorities and Child Health Index of Life with Disabilities, and Caregiver TBI-CareQoL.The Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales-Third Edition (n = 42) captured the family's perspective that communication was more affected compared with socialization, activities of daily living (ADL), and motor skills (P < .0001, P < .0001, P = .0053, respectively). Similarly, on the Caregiver Priorities and Child Health Index of Life with Disabilities (n = 26), Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory-Generic Core (n = 27), CareQol (n = 26), and Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory-Family Impact (n = 27), communication abilities, as well as social functioning and activities of daily living, were noted to be most impacted.Through the use of standardized surveys and outcome assessments, we establish the effects of β-propeller protein-associated neurodegeneration on caregiver quality of life. Key health concepts identified by families included overall health, comfort, and communication. The identified HC will inform the future identification of concept of interest and selection of appropriate clinical outcome assessments through the administration of patient-reported outcomes.

The Dynamic Nature of European Identity

EU citizenship requires a multilayered and dynamic concept of European identity. The idea of European identity embodied in the Declaration on European Identity and within A Charter on European Identity needs to be rethought. These documents should not contain essentialist assumptions based on the difference between "Europe" and "Other" that excludes and marginalizes a number of citizens. European identity should not create new forms of nationalism. That is why the concept of European identity should be flexible and dynamic. The concepts of identity, values, and Europe need to be rebuilt and reinterpreted in a multifaceted, adaptable, and dynamic manner. We can only discuss the dynamic nature of the European Union and the European identity in this sense. The concept of European identity should be developed less in terms of a predetermined past and more in terms of shared projects, long-term goals and connections resulting from a long-term, deliberate process.

Social International Politics

Constructivism emphasizes the importance of ideas in the “subjective interaction” between the materialisms and ideals of international politics. The value of the former comes from the meanings of the latter, which are variable meanings and not fixed. Therefore, what explains the transformation of material things from one meaning to another is the change of ideas, rules, standards and values in the international system, which enters into a relationship of “mutual formation” with its main units, that is, the states, and affects their local structure, leading to a change in their perceptions, thus contributing to the formation of the identities of the states in a way that directs their interests. Its behavior is determined so that this behavior comes as a result of the subjective interaction between the structure of the state and the structure of the international system. Thus, states form the system and the system forms states. Therefore, constructivism, specifically according to its main theorist, “Alexander Wendt,” revolves around the concept of identity, which is essentially “a characteristic rooted in the state’s understanding of itself in a certain image and the recognition of that image by other states.” Hence, identity expresses the existence of two types of ideas, those embraced by the self and those that The other embraces it. Because identity expresses the ideas of the self, it is a “local culture,” and because it expresses the ideas of the other, it is an “external culture.” And because it is based on the other’s recognition of it, it is formed through interaction between the self and the other. Thus, identity is a characteristic rooted in the self that is formed by the interaction of local cultures. With other external ones. Wendt goes on to explain that identities indicate who that state is, so they are convictions, while interests indicate what that state wants, so they are desires. States cannot know what they want before they know who they are, so interests arise as a result of identities. As long as identities are culturally shaped, interests will also be culturally shaped. Because identities are always forming, the possibility of them changing is possible hierarchically or collisionally, which means changing interests and policies to suit the international system without disturbing the identities and interests of states.

Research on the Impact of Internet Environment on Adolescent Gender Role Identity and Analysis of Countermeasures

With the popularization and development of the Internet, the network environment has become an important part of the daily life of adolescents. The network environment, with its unique information dissemination mode, social mode, and value concept, has an impact on the formation of adolescents’ gender role identity concept. Research at home and abroad shows that the vividness and visualization of gender information and gender imitation objects in the network environment are more likely to affect individual gender identity. The purpose of this paper is to deeply explore the influence of the Internet environment on adolescents’ gender role identity through the method of interview and observation and to analyze certain countermeasures, to provide a useful reference for further research and education.

Liminal Identities and Epistemic Injustice: Introduction to the Special Issue

ABSTRACT The concept of social identity is central to research on epistemic injustice, but what it means to belong or not to belong to a marginalized identity is often left undertheorized. After offering an overview of the state of the art in social and feminist epistemology, in this introduction we argue that liminal and interstitial identities challenge received notions and push the conversation further. We then provide a brief synopsis of the articles included in this special issue.