The ties that bind groups

The Construction of Familial Identity Author’s Name Institutional Affiliation Course Code and Name Professor’s Name Date The Construction of Familial Identity Introduction This essay critically evaluates José Medina's perspective on constructing familial identity, specifically focusing on gender, sexuality, race, and ethnicity. Medina focuses on discursive practices, language games, and normativity to offer a sophisticated picture of social identities working within particular circumstances. Although conceding the power in his argument of capturing the evolving process of identity construction outlined above, this essay reconsiders questions about the limits of this subjectivity and the metrics to assess the acceptability of normative institutions in social life. Analysis and Explanation of Relevant Textual Evidence The above-provided text explores the relative identity of Medina, and it is possible to say that working with familial identity is a complex phenomenon. He claims membership in identity groups such as women, lesbians, or Hispanics is not just a matter of facts but is negotiated within normatively built and situated practices (Medina, 2003). The points of emphasis of Medina – contextuality, performativity, and normativity correspond with the fluidity of the familial identity, evoking the necessity of identifying discursive practices within specific communities. Medina argues that familial identity is not a static construction but is contextual, constrained by intersubjective configurations of similarities and distinctions (Medina, 2003). Acknowledging identity as performative is essential, considering how individuals engage in language games and discursive practices, which influence their conceptions of themselves and others within the family environment. Real-World Example As an example of Medina’s vision, a ritual connected to the Triana ‘Negro’ in Sevilla, Spain, is very illustrative. In the story, a unique sepulcher of Iñigo Lopes, a dark-skinned young enslaved person who decayed within a church, is described. The practi...