S

Dr. Stephanie Y. Evans

Cultural Identity Framework

S.C.A.A.A.A.R.R.S*

In the fall semester of 1998, during my senior year in college, I created a concept, S.C.A.A.A.A.R.R.S., to organize my thoughts on what I wanted to study in graduate school. Since then, I have developed this acronym into a tool to assess the aspects of cultural identity that addresses, at once, individual and social, biological and environmental characteristics. This framework presents an orderly way of confronting the historic and increasingly contentious topic of cultural identity that, by academic necessity, must surpass the current convenient classifications of “race, class, and gender.” By creating this system (basically a heuristic), I seek to demonstrate the incredible complexity of identity.

S.C.A.A.A.A.R.R.S. represents the intricate marking or naming process of one’s identity within any given culture; it is a way of considering and re-considering the way we label ourselves and the way in which we are labeled (or libeled) by others. S.C.A.A.A.A.R.R.S. is a way of digging deeper in our quest for diversity and for casting a wider dragnet when attempting to identify and extinguish various means and ways of oppression.

By considering yourself in terms of the following characteristics you can consider and discuss the many ways in which various aspects of your make-up interact to form a whole being. By considering yourself in terms of this framework, you can also pinpoint the many ways in which you are similar to and different from others. There will always be additional categories to consider; this will remain a framework in progress.

Sex - gender / sexuality

Class - economic/ educational /occupational /citizenship status

Age - era / generation

Ability - physical / mental / learning style /

Affiliation - political / institutional / familial / community / relationship to land

Artifacts - symbols / values / social norms / artistic expression / appearance [including hair, skin color, clothing style]

Race - ethnicity / nationality / region / language / ancestry

Religion - spirituality / philosophy / scientific ideologies

Size - body image / health status