Context Help! IDENTITY & BELONGING

[annacwl]

Hi everyone, I'm struggling to write an expository essay on the following prompt:

People's sense of identity is challenged when they feel alienated.

I can't seem to break it down into main ideas and I'm having difficulty trying to think of some examples that relate to this prompt, any suggestions? Thank you!

[lala1911]

- When we feel ostracised, we alter our identity in attempt to belong in a group.
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its hard, tbh I can't think of many good ideas

[09Ti08]

I think firstly you need to specify what "being alienated" is, i mean it could be emotionally or physically.

You're emotionally alienated when you're emotionless towards a group of people (could be friends), even though you see and/or talk to them a lot. This could be caused by a disparity in ideologies, and you realize that the beliefs that you adopt are different.

On the other hand, you're physically alienated when people do not talk to you and not care about you. This is quite straightforward and i think you can grasp the idea.

Now here are some ideas that came into my mind:
1/ you may start to wonder whether your beliefs are true or not, and what kind of people you are to be rejected by people. Are you a kind person? Do you deserve to be rejected?
2/ when you are alienated, you're lonely. As a result, you may start to develop some kind of inner characters, which help you to face loneliness. You may be stronger, and more optimistic. Of course, change takes courage.

Hope it helps. 

[shooterblitz]

Now here are some ideas that came into my mind:
1/ you may start to wonder whether your beliefs are true or not, and what kind of people you are to be rejected by people. Are you a kind person? Do you deserve to be rejected?
2/ when you are alienated, you're lonely. As a result, you may start to develop some kind of inner characters, which help you to face loneliness. You may be stronger, and more optimistic. Of course, change takes courage.

Hope it helps. 

Adding to that, you might start feeling the need to change to appease others, in order to get rid of that feeling of either physical or emotional alienation, which then again can either be beneficial as you've transcended from a negative character and changed for better, or the opposite.

[annacwl]

Thanks for the help! Do you have any specific examples? Especially for emotional alienation?