Today, nothing about identity is clear-cut and the contradictory messages of popular culture make the ‘ideal’ model for the self even more indistinct. Making use of selected texts explain why you think this may (or may not) be a good thing.

Every moment of our lives we are bombarded by sensory stimuli from the outside world, newspapers, magazines, advertisements and fashion. Constantly our minds are categorising objects and people, whether we are aware of it or not. While we commonly use the term as it is applied to human beings, it is quite possible to stereotype objects as well. In popular culture we can examine stereotypes around different characteristics and social categories including age, gender, vocation, religion and sexual orientation. Though the ethnic stereotype seems to be the prevalent one held in society today. Throughout society we are finding it increasing difficult to categorise and identify ourselves, which may be a good thing. Unlike fifty years ago, where it was common for women to stay at home and raise a family. Then they were under pressure to be just...