Sociology of Identity

The sociology of identity explores how individuals understand and express who they are within society. It examines how personal characteristics, social roles, cultural influences, and interactions shape our sense of self. This field also studies how identities—such as gender, race, class, and nationality—are formed, maintained, and sometimes challenged or changed over time. Understanding this helps explain how people relate to others, experience inclusion or exclusion, and navigate social norms, highlighting the dynamic relationship between individual identity and social structures.