Disclaimer: The interview was not conducted by me with Dr. Jiedi Lei! However, the questions discussed in the podcast align closely with those I had planned to ask in my own research. Dr. Jiedi Lei is a Trainee Clinical Psychologist based in London and her sharing on this episode “Making Sense of Cultural Identity: Transitioning from China to the UK” provided valuable insights on the complexities of cultural identity. The full audio and the transcript of this episode attached, I include my comments along with her quotes in the blow paragraph.
10:15-13:09
“I think part of that self-identity. I kind of learned through what other people have told me so kind of seeing yourself through the eyes of others.”
“I think over the years, I’ve thought a lot about how I perhaps really, luckily, or unluckily, fit into some of the stereotypes…I work really hard to kind of this triennial Chinese kind of stereotype is that because I didn’t have a choice and I had to do that, and that’s what the stereotype was about, or is that actually to do with my personal values and where does myself actually fit into this?”
“I fit into a very niche space where it’s very hard to find other people share similar background to me….thinking about race, culture and ethnicity, how they actually are different concepts in terms of how they shape somebody’s identity.”
From the quotes, Dr. Jiedi Lei discusses several areas: cultural identity, stereotypes and the influence of race, culture and ethnicity in identity formation.
- Cultural Identity through other’s perspectives: Dr. JD’s observation that self-awareness is often shaped through others’ perspectives resonates with the advice from my tutor and the expert Sunny regarding my intervention “mapping your cultural identity”. This concept underscores the importance of understanding how others perceive us, aiding individuals in finding their place within a cross-cultural environment. The idea that others’ guesses about the cultural identity of a map creator aligns with this perspective, highlighting the interplay between self-reflection and external perception in cultural identity.
- Cultural Stereotypes and Personal Values: JD’s mention of the relationship between cultural stereotypes and personal values reflects the dual role of stereotypes in cross-cultural communication. While they can provide insights into potential taboos and preferences based on cultural backgrounds, enables us to respond rapidly to situations because we may have had a similar experience before; they also risk oversimplifying the dynamic and the fluidity of cultural identity, therefore we think things about people that might not be true, indicated by McLeod (2023). This duality of stereotypes as both bridges and barriers in cross-cultural interactions raises the question of how stereotypes relate to and conflict with individual values.
- Multiplicity at Cultural Intersections: JD’s reflection on being at the crossroads of multiple cultures, and how race, cultural and ethnicity shape identity in different ways are interesting. From the perspective of my project, which focuses on the diversity of cultural identity, this prompts a deeper exploration of how individuals navigate and reconcile their identities within the context of multiple cultural influences.
15:30-16:36
“Speaking to people and reading… I became really fascinated by people growing up in a different culture to themselves and how they make sense of their experience and actually realising there’s no one size fits all. ..the kind of two way interaction quite helpful.”
Based on above quotes, it could be find that Dr. JD involves speaking to people and reading as her approach to understand her identity. Engaging in conversations allows her to bravely express and receive different perspectives. Reading about others with similar experiences of growing up in a culture different from their own helps her realise that there is no “one size fits all” approach to identity. These points reinforce the purpose of my intervention, which is to acknowledge the diversity and uniqueness of everyone’s experiences and viewpoints, especially in the context of cultural identity. Each person’s journey in understanding and integrating their cultural identity is unique and cannot be addressed by standardized methods. It’s crucial to fully respect and understand different cultural identities and create a safe and comfortable (physical and digital) space for people to communicate and understand each other.
What I have to consider the next is how to build up a safe and comfortable space (physical and digital) for people?
Reference:
McLeod, S. (2023). Stereotypes. [online] Simply Psychology. Available at: https://www.simplypsychology.org/katz-braly.html.