A person's identity is affected by many things: the way they dress, who their friends are, their religion, and even their sexual orientation. What about the individual's socioeconomic circumstances? Is one's identity affected by their social class, or the amount of money they have? Unfair as it is, I say they do have an influence- the neighborhood one lives in, their job, and even their family.
First if all, unpleasant as it may seem, people do judge on where an individual lives. Most people don't look at a person who lives in a mansion in Beverly Hills and a homeless person the same way. Even if Bill Gates and the guy near Safeway with the "I dream of a hamburger" sign don't feel like special kinds of people, or like they are different from everybody else, society does portray them that way. Many times, people look up to riches of Bill Gates, think he is very smart, or that he deserves to be where he is. On the other hand, the poor geezer near Safeway gets insults from those walking by, who also believe that he deserves to be exactly where he is. "Go get a job!" he often has to hear in response to his pleading. Deep inside, however, I"m sure Bill Gates thinks he's superior to that homeless person, and his identity lets him. .
An individual's job can also affect the person's identity. The workers at Microsoft look up to their boss, and obey him. To them, he is a different kind of person, Bill Gates" title in his company makes those below his status think his identity is of someone with a lot of power, and perhaps even as a superior to them. .
An individual's family has an effect because it is the place that person grew up, and the person's descent can mean their identity, the way they see the world. In The Circuit, Francisco does not want his friend to see where he lives or his family out of embarrassment, he is in a way afraid that his friend will see him for what he really is. He saw his friend as especially gifted, he even commented in the way carpet felt to his feet.
