Identity & belonging
VCE
Definition:
identity
–noun, plural -ties.
1.
the condition of being oneself or itself, and not another: He doubted his own identity.
2.
condition or character as to who a person or what a thing is: a case of mistaken identity.
3.
the state or fact of being the same one as described.
4.
the sense of self, providing sameness and continuity in personality over time and sometimes disturbed in mental
illnesses, as schizophrenia.
An instance or point of sameness or likeness: to mistake resemblances for identities.
(Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper)
.
belonging
–noun
1.
something that belongs.
2.
belongings, possessions; goods; personal effects.
(Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper)
be·long
-verb
belong, verb,
1 to be rightly put into a particular position or class;
2 fit or be acceptable in a particular place or environment;
3 belong to be a member of;
4 belong to be the property or possession of.
belonging, noun, affiliation, acceptance, association, attachment, integration, closeness, rapport, fellow feeling, fellowship
antonym: alienate, verb
1 cause to feel isolated
2 lose the support or sympathy
Synonyms for alienate, verb, estrange, divide, distance, put at a distance, isolate, cut off, set against, turn away, drive
apart, disunite, set at odds/variance, drive a wedge between.
http://www.insidebreak.org.au/category/belonging/
Keywords:
Below are a few examples of novels that explore identity & belonging in different situations. There are
many more titles that are available for borrowing that can be searched in the library catalogue.
To search for titles, simply use the following keywords;
Identity
assimilation
self
oneness
unity
character
uniformity
Belonging
Family
Harmonise
Connected
Conform
Identity theft
Uniqueness
Self-perception
Conformity
Identity and Culture
Identity crisis
Suggested novels that explore ‘Identity & belonging’
The adoration of Jenna Fox – Mary Pearson
 Search for identity
 Loss of identity
 Re-defining oneself
 Memory
 Need to belong
Catcher in the rye- J.D. Salinger
 Self-perception
 Relationships & intimacy
 Loneliness
 Transition into Adulthood
Does my Head look big in this ?; Ten things I hate
about me – Randa Abdel Fattah
 Self perception
 Muslims in Australia
 Multiculturalism
 Adolescents- Australia
The Penguin Book of the Beach
 Identity & relationship with nature
 Short Stories
About a boy – Nick Hornby
 Family
 Belonging
 Mental illness
 Relationship & friendships
Will Grayson. Will Grayson – John Green & David
Levithan
 Adolescents
 Belonging
 Name – identity
 Sexual Identity
Any John Green novel
All Melina Marchetta novels
 Abandonment
 Coming of Age
 Family Relations
 Depression
 Australian Stories
 Friendship
 Cultural Identity
My place – Sally Morgan
 Aborigines peoples
 Australian identity
 Australia - History
Brave new world – Aldous Huxley
 Cloning
 Genetic Engineering
 Individuality

Jinx – Margaret Wild (verse novel)
 Adolescents
 Family Relations
 Identity crisis
 Australian Poetry
The Arrival - Shaun Tan (Picture storybook)
 Immigration
 Emigration
 Wordless Story
Uglies – Scott Westerfeld
 Conformity
 Coming of Age
Mr Pip – Lloyd Jones; Great expectations – Charles
Dickens
 Class system
 Loss of identity
 New Identities
 Family & place
The happiest refugee – Anh Do (biography)
 Refugees – Australia
 Assimilation
 Cultural differences
Whale Rider - Witi Ihimaera
 Cultural identity
 Role of females
 Tradition
 Stereotypes
All the truth that’s in me – Julie Berry
 Friendship
 Belonging
 Pioneering America
 Outcast/alienation
Jasper Jones- Craig Silvey
 Friendship
 Adolescents in Australia (1960’s)
 Racism
 Human Relations
Cloudstreet – Tim Winton
 Family
 Australian community
Butterfly – Sonya Hartnett
Every day – David Levithan
 Love
 Personal & social acceptance
 Belonging
 Polictial & culutral issues
 Searching for idenitiy
 Family & place
 Transition from child- adult
Any John David Levithan novel
 Perceptions
Search the Library catalogue and use the above key words to locate more suggestions.
Poetry & Song:
Below are some poems and songs that explore and express ‘identity & belonging’.
Poetry
Songs
W H Auden, "Refugee Blues"
Micron, Identity
John Donne, No Man is an Island
Langston Hughes, I, Too
Dorothea MacKellar, My Country
I still call Australia home ,Peter Allen
Treaty, Yothu Yindi
So What, Pink
Stupid Girls, Pink
Any song by Archie Roach (Took the children away)
Belonging, Bread.
Scar, Missy Higgins
I Am Australian (Bruce Woodley)
Pretty hurts – Beyonce
Born this way – Lady Gaga
Movies:
Secret Life of Bees*
Ice Storm
Witness
Jew Boy
Born on the 4th of July
Edward Scissorhands
Once were Warriors
Guess who’s coming to dinner
Mean girls
She’s the man
Europa Europa
Ameerika
On the Waterfront
An Education
Slumdog Millionaire
Bend it like Beckham
Breakfast Club
Stand by me (Known as ‘The Body’ in
‘Different Seasons’)*
Romulus, my father*
Mary and Max (Adam Elliot)
Little Miss Sunshine
Monsoon Wedding
Black Comedy (TV series)
Ja’mie private school girl (TV
series)
Jonah from Tonga (TV series)
Perks of being a wallflower*
*Novel is available in the Library.
Real stories/issues - Identity & belonging:
ABC Radio National podcast featuring stories of some of the authors (Randa Abdel Fattah, Dr Tanveer Ahmed and
Sabrina Houssami) from the text 'Coming of Age: Growing Up Muslim in Australia
http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/spiritofthings/growing-up-muslim/5275562
National Gallery of Victoria selection of images to use as a resource:
http://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0012/105231/NGV-English-Contexts.pdf
Australian Centre for the Moving Image resources: http://generator.acmi.net.au/education-themes/belonging-and-identity
Stolen generation - http://www.stolengenerationstestimonies.com/
This website explores the policy of forcibly removing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (Indigenous) children from their
families. These children became known as the Stolen Generations. Prominent Aboriginal spokespersons worth
researching are Charles Perkins, Sally Morgan, Archie Roach and Ruby Hunter.
Cults http://www.spiritual-wholeness.org/faqs/sectsgen.htm
The Lost Children http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/1999/03/24/60II/main40269.shtml . After WW2, many of Britain’s
orphaned children were sent abroad to start anew. Here are some of their stories.
Migration Stories http://museumvictoria.com.au/journeys/
Identity crisis http://psychology.about.com/od/theoriesofpersonality/a/identitycrisis.htm
From Australian Story, ABC television:
These are links to recent episodes that involve themes of belonging. The ABC provides transcripts, vodcasts and
podcasts of its more recent programmes. An excellent resource!

Actor Sam Johnson's story: http://www.abc.net.au/austory/specials/sumofsam/default.htm

In this moving story the 22 year old singer Karise Eden finally reveals what happened after 'The Voice'.:
http://www.abc.net.au/austory/content/2014/s4102714.htm

Col. Cate McGregor AM has been a participant in some of the most significant chapters in recent Australian
history. Now, she is the most high profile individual in Australia to 'come out' as a transgendered person.
http://www.abc.net.au/austory/specials/callmecate/default.htm

A two part episode that looks at the journey of Johnson Maker-Adeng and his story over the last seven years.
http://www.abc.net.au/austory/specials/thinkbig/default.htm

The Choir of Hard Knocks, a highly successful choir of disadvantaged and disabled people demonstrating the
power of community belonging: http://www.abc.net.au/tv/hardknocks/
Your identity and your success go hand in hand. Many people sacrifice their identities by not doing
what they really want to do. And that's why they're not successful. ~
Lila Swell
~ Identity is such a crucial affair that one shouldn't rush into it. ~
David Quammen