{"id":4299,"date":"2016-04-13T14:49:38","date_gmt":"2016-04-13T13:49:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/?p=50065"},"modified":"2025-12-19T11:22:14","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T10:22:14","slug":"may-i-see-your-id","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2016\/04\/13\/may-i-see-your-id\/","title":{"rendered":"May I see your ID?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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On several occasions, I\u2019ve found myself in a somewhat ironic situation. I meet someone new, we exchange courtesies and then the regular \u2018Q&A\u2019 starts back and forth. However, it\u2019s usually not until ten minutes later at best, after we\u2019ve discussed my nationality, age, occupation, what I think about Putin (well, that\u2019s a Russian specialty) that people finally get round to asking my name. I\u2019ve had this happen during student group assignments, personal communication and academic symposia. In this world, what you do apparently matters much more than who you are.<\/p>\n

But who are you, really? Paradoxically, this obsession with achievements and status in our meritocratic society goes hand in hand with an unrivalled desire for identity. Nowadays, everyone is supposed to look within themselves to find their unique self and then to cultivate it, cherish it and stand up for it.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m obviously not entirely comfortable with this fervent pursuit of \u2018exclusive\u2019 identity. But to be frank, I\u2019m not a fan of more conventional labels either. This month, I\u2019m having a knee-jerk reaction every time someone mentions International Women\u2019s Day. I\u2019ve never particularly identified with my gender. Now, that\u2019s not to say that I feel like a boy or that \u2018\u2019I\u2019ve been born into a wrong body\u2019\u2019.<\/p>\n

This is simply to underscore that by answering \u2018\u2019I am Russian\u2019\u2019 or \u2018\u2019I am a student\u2019\u2019 or \u2018\u2019I am a woman\u2019\u2019, you are narrowing down your vision. Yes, identity may be useful in our globalised world, where people are constantly moving around and each of us plays several roles every day. Not to mention the fact that being able to identify with a group can create a sense of belonging that most of us desire in this alienated urban landscape.<\/p>\n

Be that as it may, don\u2019t worry if you haven\u2019t yet found your identity. It\u2019s more important to have a centre within yourself where you feel grounded. Once you have that, whichever label is attached to you or gets ripped off (which is another frequent occurrence and which typically leads to personality crises), you\u2019ll be able to more openly welcome external circumstances rather than get cemented in internal stickers.<\/p>\n

Read more Kate<\/h2>