How to Honor Heritage and Identity (Without Ruining It)

Cultural heritage and identity is a fascinating subject, and everyone’s got a story to tell. 

With that said- why in the world would I suggest that it could be ruined?!

I am talking about the ways in which stereotypes are perpetuated, historical facts are suddenly MIA and the unwillingness to see how culture changes through space and time. While I say "ruin" in jest, consider your own cultural heritage and identity throughout the article. 

So how could you ruin heritage and identity? 

First, you center yourself. You see yourself as some sort of spokesperson speaking on behalf of a cultural group. While there is a collectivism aspect to culture, for example, the meme you found on Instagram about Italian grandmothers calling marinara sauce gravy, doesn’t mean that it’s uniform across the spectrum. You can certainly acknowledge your life journey as framed by cultural contexts, but since there are so many other contexts and factors, no two lives and personal heritages are the same. Ultimately, your experience is unique. 

Second, you’re fixated on traditional social norms and unable to accept cultural changes. For example, machismo is accepted in your culture because the men in your family were dominant figures. While it may be true that patriarchy is in practice, that doesn’t make it okay or a rule that needs to be followed. This is how very poor behavior perpetuates. Instead, acknowledge that there are social norms that may not align with everyone and anyone. Just because “that’s the way it’s always been” doesn’t make it acceptable. 

Third, you romanticize your heritage. You take aspects and snippets of history and culture and create this idealized utopia. While cultural heritage is extremely rich in the arts, music, food, architecture, fashion- that’s just a small piece. We know that there are a lot of ugly events that have occurred in history, and simply glazing over them doesn’t erase anything. You can still appreciate your heritage and understand its multifaceted history. You will more than likely take those lessons and apply them towards social change. 

Lastly, you put on rose-tinted glasses. You get nostalgic and remember what it was like when you were a child. Life was simpler. While you may remember major events in history, the longer time passes, the further you get from the present moment. You can speak on those times with reverence and fond remembrance, but put it into perspective- it shaped and influenced you, but don't forget that culture changes every single day. 

The biggest takeaway is that every personal experience is just that: life and communication as framed by cultural contexts that impact perceptions, beliefs and values. It's easy to lump culture into buckets that people fall into, but rather, see every person has a vessel for interesting stories that span across time.