Ethnic identity in teenagers

• Author: Ada Ioana Dobrescu
• Position: Transilvania University of Brasov
• Pages: 317-326

Bulletin of the Transilvania University of Braşo v

Series VII: Social Sciences • Law • Vol. 12(61) No. 2 – 2019

https://doi.org/10.31926/but.ssl.2019.12.61.2.14

ETHNIC IDENTITY IN TEENAGERS

Ada Ioana DOBRESCU1

Abstract: This article presents a theoretical as well as a practical approach

regarding the concept of ethnic identity in teenagers. It describes teenagers

of American ethnic minorities, with their specific issues. The correlation of

ethnic identity with self-esteem, social network of teenagers and elements

related to discrimination are presented in this research.

Key words: adolescence, ethnic identity, self-esteem, ethnic minorities,

discrimination.

1. Introduction

This article represents a part of my PhD thesis and it describes the way in which ethnic

identity in teenagers is outlined. In literature, there are also other components

associated to this age group, such as: social and personal identity, vocational identity,

gender identity, and moral-spiritual identity.

Adolescence represents an intermediary stage of passing from childhood to

adulthood, which presents changes at a physical, biological level, as well as at a social

and relational level. Hormone changes specific to the previous stage, namely puberty, as

well as physical ones, such as growth in height, excessive hair growth, as well as social

changes, such as a change in the group of mates from gymnasium to high school, all

these involve changes at the level of youth indentity.

Identity represents a well-organised concept of one’s own person and of the world,

comprising values, beliefs, and goals to which an individual devotes oneself (Harwood,

Miller, & Vasta, 2010).

Each individual has a single self, but more identities that vary depending on relational

contexts, such as family, group of friends, and school. Teenagers wish to find answers to

fundamental questions of life, such as: “ Who am I?”; “What do I do in this world?”;

“What do I want to be?”, through which they experience various roles, choices, and

values that will subsequently create their identity. All these contexts can develop a

coherent sense of life having as an end the formation of identity or not, leading to an

identity crisis (Demir, Demir, & Sonmez, 2010).

Ethnic identity is a sub-component of social identity. Starting from childhood, when

groups of belonging or of reference are brought to the foreground, identity starts to

form, this being influenced by: family, friends, neighbours, community, and profess ional

1 Transilvania University of Braşov, ada.dobrescu@unitbv.ro.