Socialization Timeline – Teaching about Identities, Diversity, and Equity

Topics and Competencies

Awareness of Social Identities, Awareness of Structural Inequality

Grade Level

Middle Grades, High School, College/Adult

Subject Area Integration

None

Author(s)

Christy M. Byrd

Source

Program on Intergroup Relations, University of Michigan

Date Created/Most Recently Revised

Unknown/February 2021

Time

30 minutes

Setting

Appropriate for most settings

Type and Level of Engagement

Individual Work, Group Work, Moderate Engagement

Accessibility

Learning Objectives

Recognize the socialization messages received throughout life.
Understand that socialization messages will vary as a result of group membership.
Understand how socialization influences personal identity and social identity beliefs.

Materials

Sheet of paper
Writing utensil

Instructions

We are all born into a world where the rules are already set about who is expected to do what. Throughout our lives, we learn those rules in subtle and overt ways. Learning these rules is called socialization.
Ask participants to draw a line through the center of their paper and divide the paper into four equal sections. They should label the sections according to age, for example, early childhood, elementary school, middle and high school, and the present.
Ask students to choose a social identity or provide a particular identity for everyone to focus on. When providing participants with a choice, ensure that they focus on a social identity and not merely a group identity (student) or a role (daughter).
Give students 10-15 minutes to identify messages they heard about being a member of that group throughout their lives. They can also consider:
- What were the sources of the messages?
- What behaviors were encouraged or rewarded? What behaviors were discouraged or punished?
Divide students into small groups of 3-4 to share their timelines and discuss for 15-20 minutes. Let students know that they do not have to share anything they are not comfortable sharing.
- What messages were similar across your group?
- What messages were different?
- What do you think are the reasons for those similarities and differences?
- How did those messages influence you?
- How did messages about the identity you chose intersect with other identities you hold?
Conclude with a large group discussion for 10-15 minutes.
- What did you find interesting or surprising about this activity? In your group discussions?
- What in your thinking about identity has changed as a result of this activity?

Variations

https://sites.lsa.umich.edu/inclusive-teaching/mapping-social-identity-timeline-activity/
The Social Identity Wheel is a useful activity to pair with this one.

Extensions

It can be useful to discuss the Cycle of Socialization immediately after this activity to help participants understand how socialization messages serve as enforcements.