Wealth of Wisdom

CHAPTER 5Understanding Identity and Social Power

Kofi Hope and Zahra Ebrahim

The identity wheel is a tool commonly used to help people understand the elements of identity that shape us, our experience of the world, and the power connected to aspects of our identity. Because it starts with self, and our own experiences, it's a much more accessible way to start engaging with this complex topic.

The activity is best done in small groups of two to six people. The first part is done individually and should take 10–15 minutes.

Step 1

• Print the Identity Wheel worksheet (or draw it out on a piece of paper). Start by writing your name in the center, recognizing and acknowledging that our names are a core part of our identity.

Step 2

• You'll notice on the wheel there are different sections or panels. Each is a possible part of your identity. You'll see that there are two parts to each section.

  First, think about how you identify yourself. For example, what is your gender or your ethnic group? Write these in the “How I see myself” inner ring. The goal is not to have a precise answer, but more to think about what parts of your identity are clear to you and what parts require more reflection. If you can't fill in every section, that's okay; it's part of the learning! There is no right answer, and we encourage you to refrain from going online to search for definitions if terms are unclear. ...