Ethnic-Racial Identity and its Links to Critical Consciousness, Socialization, and Diversity

Session Type: Paper Symposium

Abstract

Youth of color in the U.S. face a daunting challenge: develop a positive sense of self within a highly racialized, increasingly diversifying, and often openly hostile society. This process of ethnic-racial identity development—ascribing beliefs and meaning to their cultural background—is prominent during adolescence, and has been linked to myriad academic, socioemotional, and psychological benefits. However, it is made only more complex, particularly for youth of color, by obstacles such as racial discrimination and shifting societal barriers, relationships, and expectations. Considering these challenges, this symposium will explore key nuances of ethnic-racial identity development among diverse adolescent populations. Specifically, we aim to discuss 1) how positive ethnic-racial identity beliefs may facilitate diverse friendships across time and contexts; 2) the extent to which ethnic-racial identity and familial racial socialization contribute to youth’s critical action in response to gendered racism; and 3) the role of ethnic-racial identity and critical reflection in aiding youth’s engagement with historically restrictive STEM fields.

Sub Unit

• Race, Ethnicity, Culture, Context

Chair

• Michael Alan Medina, Boston University

Discussant

• Josefina Bañales, University of Illinois at Chicago

Individual Presentations

• Ethnic-Racial Identity and Friendship Diversity Across Contexts - Presenting Author: Michael Alan Medina, Boston University; Adrienne Nishina, University of California - Davis; Amy Bellmore, University of Wisconsin-Madison; Melissa R Witkow, Willamette University

• Ethnic-Racial Exploration, Implicit Familial Socialization, and Critical Action among Black and Latina Adolescent Girls - Presenting Author: Taina Belinda Quiles, University of Virginia - Charlottesville; Channing Mathews, University of Virginia; Seanna Leath, Washington University in St. Louis

• Patterns of Ethnic-Racial Identity and Critical Reflection with Perceived Barriers: A Latent Class Analysis - Presenting Author: Channing Mathews, University of Virginia; Jacqueline Cerda-Smith, North Carolina State University; Angelina Joy, Purdue University, West Lafayette; Jerica Knox, North Carolina State University; Josefina Bañales, University of Illinois at Chicago; Michael Alan Medina, Boston University; Kelly Lynn S Mulvey, North Carolina State University