‘Am I a circle? Am I a square?’
The clash between personal and social identity: Too sensitive, different, weird individuals.
People who have personal identities that differ from the societal norm often face stigmatization, with the stigmatized person being subjected to intense scrutiny, pressured by the majority group, or even threatened. This can lead to extreme loneliness, depression, and in some cases, individuals may even take their own lives as a last resort. Thus, it can be challenging for individuals to develop and maintain a strong sense of individual identity in a homogeneous society, which may lack diversity.
This social pressure and difficulty of maintaining a strong individual identity can be linked to the history of a country being violated by colonialism. The imposition of foreign culture, values, and norms by colonizers can lead to a loss of cultural identity and a sense of inferiority among the colonized people. This loss of cultural identity can have a lasting impact on society, making it more challenging for individuals to embrace their unique identities without fear of discrimination or stigma.
In response to the fear of discrimination, individuals may conform to societal norms and expectations rather than risk expressing their unique identity. However, this can result in a lack of diversity in society as individuals suppress their true selves in order to fit in with the majority.
Performance, Film | Square peg (2023) 8m