Casey Rapp
BHS-330
Professor Harris
Date
Cultural Identity
An individual being raised in an abusive environment can be influenced by disrupting
their learning style preferences, their behavior patterns, and their cultural identity in a
detrimental way. Physical and emotional abuse are not specific to one type of culture or one
type of tradition. Studies have revealed that, “all [abusive] behaviors are found in all cultural
groups,” (McIntyre, 2002). Experiencing abuse as a child influences a likelihood of entering an
abusive relationship into adulthood. “A higher proportion of survivors of child abuse went on to
experience domestic abuse in adulthood, compared with those who suffered no childhood
abuse,” (Office for National Statistics, 2017). A child that grows up in an abusive environment
ultimately is taught biases and normalities within the identity of the child. This essay will define
how my cultural identity was affected detrimentally by consistent physical and emotional abuse
throughout childhood and adolescence.
I could begin by explaining the basic cultural details about my childhood like, where I
was born and raised, traditions my parents instilled in me, or traditions in my community. While
that could be an academic essay on traditions and culture in my home town, truth be told, it
would not describe my cultural identity nor my personal biases. Personally, culture and tradition
in my community was none of my own concern, where as survival was my upmost concern.
Traditions that were instilled in me as a child were — obedience, survival, and perfectionism.
Personal biases? I wasn’t allowed to have a personal opinion growing up. The phrase, “you are
BHS-330
Professor Harris
Date
Cultural Identity
An individual being raised in an abusive environment can be influenced by disrupting
their learning style preferences, their behavior patterns, and their cultural identity in a
detrimental way. Physical and emotional abuse are not specific to one type of culture or one
type of tradition. Studies have revealed that, “all [abusive] behaviors are found in all cultural
groups,” (McIntyre, 2002). Experiencing abuse as a child influences a likelihood of entering an
abusive relationship into adulthood. “A higher proportion of survivors of child abuse went on to
experience domestic abuse in adulthood, compared with those who suffered no childhood
abuse,” (Office for National Statistics, 2017). A child that grows up in an abusive environment
ultimately is taught biases and normalities within the identity of the child. This essay will define
how my cultural identity was affected detrimentally by consistent physical and emotional abuse
throughout childhood and adolescence.
I could begin by explaining the basic cultural details about my childhood like, where I
was born and raised, traditions my parents instilled in me, or traditions in my community. While
that could be an academic essay on traditions and culture in my home town, truth be told, it
would not describe my cultural identity nor my personal biases. Personally, culture and tradition
in my community was none of my own concern, where as survival was my upmost concern.
Traditions that were instilled in me as a child were — obedience, survival, and perfectionism.
Personal biases? I wasn’t allowed to have a personal opinion growing up. The phrase, “you are
