Identity

Photo of wooden bookshelves filled with books, small decor items and framed pictures in a cosy room setting.
STORIES AND LITERATURE
16

How to nurture a personal library

An escape, a sanctuary, a place of pleasure, a memoir. Take these steps to ensure your library is just what you want it to be

by Freya Howarth

Photo of an aeroplane parked at Bologna Airport with the terminal and control tower in the background.
COMMUNICATION AND LANGUAGE
8

Speaking a different language can change how you act and feel

For many multilinguals, switching between tongues can lead to shifts in personality, revealing the malleability of the self

by Antonella Gismundi

A blue sports car and a grey luxury car parked on a city street with people and a Christian Dior shop in the background.
GENDER
17

The ‘masculinity crisis’ is actually a crisis of self-esteem

There’s a modern belief that talent or effort can carry anyone to the top. It’s a myth that’s especially harmful to men

by Leo Rogers

Photo of five people on a wooden walkway in a waterside village smiling, one pair embracing, colourful laundry in background.
SEX AND SEXUALITY

The new genomics of sexuality moves us beyond ‘born this way’

The new genomics of sexuality reflects a social and political reality that has moved beyond ‘born this way’ and the ‘gay gene’

by Joanna Wuest

Photo of people in winter clothing exiting a tram at a busy station.
AUTISM

Late autism diagnosis: it’s a relief, but who’s behind the mask?

By the time an adult learns they’re autistic, they have often been covering up for years. A period of self-discovery awaits

by Leonie Mercedes

Photo of a man lounging on a beach towel with a ball as a pillow a woman sits nearby with colourful umbrellas and buildings.
SEX AND SEXUALITY

Human bodies change through life. So does our sexuality

Sexual identity is more than sexual orientation. It develops and changes as our bodies develop and change through our lives

by Jana Byars

Black and white photo of soldiers in bandages sitting inside a vehicle during wartime, exhibiting visible injuries.
THE SELF
11

What does it take for someone to become a ‘different person’?

What does it really mean when you say of an individual that they are so transformed as to be a ‘different person’?

by John Schwenkler

Photo of a quaint bookshop with a green facade and display window filled with books, a person entering via a side door.
PLACE

‘Place authenticity’ is an important, overlooked part of life

From indie bookshops to artisan cafes, spending time in unique, characterful places can enrich your own sense of self

by Ashley Krause

Photo of four men embracing on a beach at night with colourful lights blurred in the background.
GENDER
15

Too many men lack close friendships. What’s holding them back?

Some masculine norms are a straightjacket, depriving men of the connections they need. It takes bravery to leave them behind

by Angelica Puzio Ferrara

A yellow shirt on a hanger by a door with sunlight streaming in through a window in the background.
WORK AND VOCATION
10

Six ways to use clothes to boost your confidence at work

Regardless of your budget or fashion sense, dressing with more intention can benefit your mindset and performance

by Dahlia Stroud

Painting depicting 16 scenes of diverse families and cultural attire, titled with Spanish casta terms in a grid layout.
IDENTITY

Why Spanish colonial officials feared the power of clothing

Colonial society depends on a clear distinction between the rulers and the ruled. Clothing could create problems

by Rebecca Earle

Various hats displayed on stands in a shop window with a blurred street scene and bicycle outside.
IDENTITY
3

You have multiple ‘social identities’ – here’s how to manage them

As social beings, our identities are bound up with different groups – here’s how to juggle all the various hats you wear

by Anna K Zinn

Photo of a woman using a phone by a sunny window with a city view. She is next to a suitcase and a red chair.
PLACE

The divided self: does where I live make me who I am?

At home in Delhi, I am a more social, interactive person. A quiet balcony in Frankfurt gave me space to be by myself

by Anandi Mishra

Photo of two people in a gritty urban street with peeling painted walls, graffiti and shoes hanging on a wire.
CULTURAL DIVERSITY

Cultural differences are far more nuanced than East vs West

It’s simply not the case that ‘Eastern’ cultures are relationally-minded, while ‘Western’ societies are individualistic

by Matt Huston

A man with a beard and glasses wearing a wide-brimmed hat and blue clothes stands outdoors near a pond, with trees in the background.
SPIRITUALITY AND RELIGION

When his faith crumbles, an ‘Amish atheist’ rebuilds his world from scratch

Directed by Lance Edmands

Surreal painting of a side profile with various images including a daffodil, buildings, people, a mug, and a fish.
PSYCHOSIS AND SCHIZOPHRENIA

People with psychosis can heal by rebuilding their life stories

The narrative identities of people with schizophrenia reveal its profound disruption – but also the potential for growth

by Henry R Cowan