My Identity, My Social Capital Networks, and Civic Engagement
My Identity, My Social Capital Networks, and Civic Engagement
My Identities
Redhead
Being a redhead has been a hugely defining attribute for me. As much as I benefit from a massive amount of white privilege, I also stand out as other among other Caucasians. It has made me a target of scorn, harassment, and oversexualization. I am often the only one in a room that looks like me, which is uncomfortable, but also sometimes empowering. When I do encounter other redheads (other than my parents) it’s always a weird experience likely to go one of two ways: we are either insta-friends who all belong to the “secret club/society of redheads” or they are upset about no longer being the only redhead in that space.
Expat
Living abroad for four years and then returning to the US, but not to our home state has had a large impact on my identity. I now speak three languages, rather than the two I grew up with, which continues to teach me that I am wrong on a regular basis, and that it’s ok to be wrong. It has also affected my attachment to holidays. Living in a country that doesn’t celebrate many of the same days, as well as being so far from family has really distilled which days and traditions are really important to me personally. I also have a wide network of friends and acquaintances spread across the world that allow for a larger network of news, information, and opinions to be shared.
Married, no children
Living the kind of lifestyle we have chosen- being married with no kids has definitely affected my identity. It affected what groups we could and would join when we moved to new places. My husband is my best friend, and the lion’s share of my support network, just as I am for him. Not having kids has forced me to learn and adapt how as an adult I meet new people and make new friends. I don’t have the option of meeting the parents of the other children in my kid’s class. I also struggled when I tried to join some of the co-ed expat groups when I first moved abroad as many of them seemed to be mostly just opportunities for single people to meet.
My Social Capital
Solidarity Sundays
In moving to San Jose and trying to build a new support system as well as becoming politically involved in our new area, I joined a feminist book club. While the book club fizzled out after only two meetings, I met a friend who invited me to join the local chapter of Solidarity Sundays. This group, while having a feminist agenda and therefore having a predominantly female membership, brings together both men and women of a wide variety of backgrounds to help pursue and promote a variety of progressive movements and legislation. Pre-pandemic the meetings were held in the homes of the members on a volunteer host basis, though now the meetings (like so many other things in life) are held over Zoom. The group tackles a whole range of topics focusing both on national issues with topics provided by the national organization, as well as local issues suggested by our local members. This balance has given this group longevity other groups that also formed around the 2016 elections have not been able to sustain. They also do not focus on one particular set of ideas or ideals. Instead, this group is about educating members about the issues that are out there, the options that are available, and giving options around organizing and supporting those issues and causes that are most important to the individual.
How This Network Participates with Social & Civic Engagement
This group helps to educate and engage members in both national and local progressive causes and elections. They organize attendance of protests, and letter/postcard writing campaigns. They host discussions and help build relationships with local politicians.
Expatriate
The expatriate community is huge with many subgroups in every country, state, and town. The members of this community are bonded together by a deep desire to belong, and to find others who can understand their very unique set of challenges and experiences. Mostly the support system you left back home just can’t understand what life in a new country is like. They think it’s all excitement and adventure. They are often jealous or upset that you left, or just move on with their daily lives and you move to the back of their minds when you are no longer in their daily lives. As an expat you need people who can understand language foibles, or the acrobatics required to be successful in an appointment with the immigration office. You need people who understand the loneliness and the cravings and desires for things that are no longer available to you. Often times these groups are made up of people from many different countries who have all ended up in the same place. They often want help navigating their new home, and to build a new support system. There are a wide variety of formal groups helping expatriates navigate their new homes. There are groups solely for meetups, groups that help newcomers engage in their community, and groups that have formal programs and help bridge the gap between cultures.
How This Network Participates with Social & Civic Engagement
A few of the groups I have participated in have offered civic engagement through the promotion of local charities within the group, and rounds of fundraising throughout the year as well as community building support for those new to the area. I also participated in a group that offered educational courses and programs, such as a program to help German high school students improve their English before heading off to college by devising a competition around reading books written in English.
This photo was taken on one of my walks through a local park that was previously the site of a toxic waste dump. It is also a park where a subgroup I am apart of has helped to pick up trash along the trails.
Pagan
I have joined the larger Pagan community of the Bay Area, and made some great friends to form a subgroup within the larger community. We are a group of wide ranging and varying faiths who come together to bond, and occasionally argue, over common interests. This community brings people together through conventions (one of the largest Pagan conventions in the country), book clubs, hobby and educational groups and classes with the purpose of growing and exploring our individual faith. Those involved in the Pagan community tend to be focused on environmental concerns of one sort or another. There are subgroups within the community that form around the specific environmental or ecological concern you are passionate about. We are also a tight knit and rather small community, so much of our organizing is done on a smaller level to help out those in need within our own community, whether that is an individual or a small business that has been supporting our community. Being such a small community, we often come together to support the causes and issues of others in our community, even if they are not ones we are personally invested in. Support and loyalty are a cornerstone of this community.
How This Network Participates with Social & Civic Engagement
This networks participates in social engagement in smaller more individual or small group settings. They are also active in organizing around progressive and environmental issues.
My Identity, My Social Capital Networks, and Civic Engagement
My Identities
Redhead
Being a redhead has been a hugely defining attribute for me. As much as I benefit from a massive amount of white privilege, I also stand out as other among other Caucasians. It has made me a target of scorn, harassment, and oversexualization. I am often the only one in a room that looks like me, which is uncomfortable, but also sometimes empowering. When I do encounter other redheads (other than my parents) it’s always a weird experience likely to go one of two ways: we are either insta-friends who all belong to the “secret club/society of redheads” or they are upset about no longer being the only redhead in that space.
Expat
Living abroad for four years and then returning to the US, but not to our home state has had a large impact on my identity. I now speak three languages, rather than the two I grew up with, which continues to teach me that I am wrong on a regular basis, and that it’s ok to be wrong. It has also affected my attachment to holidays. Living in a country that doesn’t celebrate many of the same days, as well as being so far from family has really distilled which days and traditions are really important to me personally. I also have a wide network of friends and acquaintances spread across the world that allow for a larger network of news, information, and opinions to be shared.
Married, no children
Living the kind of lifestyle we have chosen- being married with no kids has definitely affected my identity. It affected what groups we could and would join when we moved to new places. My husband is my best friend, and the lion’s share of my support network, just as I am for him. Not having kids has forced me to learn and adapt how as an adult I meet new people and make new friends. I don’t have the option of meeting the parents of the other children in my kid’s class. I also struggled when I tried to join some of the co-ed expat groups when I first moved abroad as many of them seemed to be mostly just opportunities for single people to meet.
My Social Capital
Solidarity Sundays
In moving to San Jose and trying to build a new support system as well as becoming politically involved in our new area, I joined a feminist book club. While the book club fizzled out after only two meetings, I met a friend who invited me to join the local chapter of Solidarity Sundays. This group, while having a feminist agenda and therefore having a predominantly female membership, brings together both men and women of a wide variety of backgrounds to help pursue and promote a variety of progressive movements and legislation. Pre-pandemic the meetings were held in the homes of the members on a volunteer host basis, though now the meetings (like so many other things in life) are held over Zoom. The group tackles a whole range of topics focusing both on national issues with topics provided by the national organization, as well as local issues suggested by our local members. This balance has given this group longevity other groups that also formed around the 2016 elections have not been able to sustain. They also do not focus on one particular set of ideas or ideals. Instead, this group is about educating members about the issues that are out there, the options that are available, and giving options around organizing and supporting those issues and causes that are most important to the individual.
How This Network Participates with Social & Civic Engagement
This group helps to educate and engage members in both national and local progressive causes and elections. They organize attendance of protests, and letter/postcard writing campaigns. They host discussions and help build relationships with local politicians.
Expatriate
The expatriate community is huge with many subgroups in every country, state, and town. The members of this community are bonded together by a deep desire to belong, and to find others who can understand their very unique set of challenges and experiences. Mostly the support system you left back home just can’t understand what life in a new country is like. They think it’s all excitement and adventure. They are often jealous or upset that you left, or just move on with their daily lives and you move to the back of their minds when you are no longer in their daily lives. As an expat you need people who can understand language foibles, or the acrobatics required to be successful in an appointment with the immigration office. You need people who understand the loneliness and the cravings and desires for things that are no longer available to you. Often times these groups are made up of people from many different countries who have all ended up in the same place. They often want help navigating their new home, and to build a new support system. There are a wide variety of formal groups helping expatriates navigate their new homes. There are groups solely for meetups, groups that help newcomers engage in their community, and groups that have formal programs and help bridge the gap between cultures.
How This Network Participates with Social & Civic Engagement
A few of the groups I have participated in have offered civic engagement through the promotion of local charities within the group, and rounds of fundraising throughout the year as well as community building support for those new to the area. I also participated in a group that offered educational courses and programs, such as a program to help German high school students improve their English before heading off to college by devising a competition around reading books written in English.
Pagan
I have joined the larger Pagan community of the Bay Area, and made some great friends to form a subgroup within the larger community. We are a group of wide ranging and varying faiths who come together to bond, and occasionally argue, over common interests. This community brings people together through conventions (one of the largest Pagan conventions in the country), book clubs, hobby and educational groups and classes with the purpose of growing and exploring our individual faith. Those involved in the Pagan community tend to be focused on environmental concerns of one sort or another. There are subgroups within the community that form around the specific environmental or ecological concern you are passionate about. We are also a tight knit and rather small community, so much of our organizing is done on a smaller level to help out those in need within our own community, whether that is an individual or a small business that has been supporting our community. Being such a small community, we often come together to support the causes and issues of others in our community, even if they are not ones we are personally invested in. Support and loyalty are a cornerstone of this community.
How This Network Participates with Social & Civic Engagement
This networks participates in social engagement in smaller more individual or small group settings. They are also active in organizing around progressive and environmental issues.
References