Final answer:
The representation of identities like race and gender as products of biology or nature is contested; while biological traits exist, cultural interpretations and social constructions significantly shape these identities. John Locke proposed that identity is more about psychological continuity than biology. Cultural practices also play a crucial role in forming identities.
Step-by-step explanation:
The representation of particular identities as if they were a result of biology or nature is referred to when we construct our concepts about race using biological information about ourselves, believing that these concepts are embedded in nature. This school of thought has been widely challenged, arguing that race is not biologically identifiable and that racial categories are based on pseudoscience. These pseudoscientific beliefs have been used in history to justify racist practices, such as the myth that genetic differences in race can determine intelligence.
Similarly, gender identity is often seen as a cultural interpretation of biological differences; however, the cultural interpretation itself alters the way those biological differences are perceived. This complex interaction between culture and biology leads to gender being naturalized, or made to seem natural, versus simply being a natural fact. The identities each individual holds result from a complex mixture of biological, psychological, and cultural factors.
In contrast to biological determinism, John Locke's view on identity through the psychological continuity approach suggests that our memories and consciousness construct our identity, rather than our biological form. Moreover, cultural identities can also be expressed through arts, music, and sports, which have become sources of cultural identity and channels for human rights movements, diversity, equity, and inclusion. These identities are not inherent to our biology but are rather shaped and recognized through shared cultural practices and symbols.