Abstract
We show how identity theory can provide a coherent theoretical framework for understanding people’s ethnic identity meanings and behavior across an ethnically diverse sample. Using a mixed-methods approach, we developed measures of respondents’ ethnic identity that reveal two separate though related dimensions of meaning that are relevant for all respondents. One of these is oriented toward ethnic group membership focused on the heritage and traditions of members. The other is oriented toward ethnic role behavior, focused on the role performances that maintain and display one’s ethnic identity meanings. We examine how respondents’ level of knowledge and certainty of their ethnicity, as well as generation in the U.S., influence the difficulty respondents report verifying their ethnic identity. Results show identity theory is well positioned to understand respondents’ ethnic identity and the difficulties they experience. In addition, we provide a theoretical explanation for why respondents feel uneasy when their ethnic identity claims are not accepted by others.
Prepared for the 2018 Identity Conference, Boston, MA.
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Notes
- 1.
The terms race, race/ethnicity, and ethnicity will be used interchangeably throughout this paper. Nevertheless, we recognize that race and ethnicity are sometimes conceptualized as separate and/or overlapping concepts. We have chosen to follow recent scholarship arguing that distinguishing between these terms fails to account for respondents’ lived experiences (Brown et al., 2006; Hitlin et al., 2007; Lee & Bean, 2004; Wimmer, 2008).
- 2.
The racial/ethnic background of the undergraduate population was approximately: eight percent Black, 40% Asian/Pacific Islander, and 31% Hispanic and 16% white and about 5% other groups, including Native American.
- 3.
Note that this measure of verification difficulty does not compare a measure of the respondent’s identity standard with a measure of their reflected appraisals , but, instead, taps directly the respondent’s feeling of discrepancy—that is, of not being able to have perceptions from the environment match one’s identity standard.
- 4.
We do not have the data to determine when these respondents immigrated to the U.S. Thus, we are unable to determine if any of these individuals should be labeled as the 1.5 generation .
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Appendix
Appendix
Factor Analysis of Self-Worth Scale Items
Items | Loadings |
|---|---|
1. I feel I am a person of worth, at least on an equal basis with others.a | .72 |
2. I feel that I have a number of good qualities.a | .79 |
3. I take a positive attitude toward myself.a | .81 |
4. On the whole, I am satisfied with myself.a | .75 |
5. I usually feel good about myself. | .82 |
6. I feel I have much to offer as a person. | .79 |
7. I have a lot of confidence in the actions I undertake in my life. | .71 |
Factor Analysis of Self-Efficacy Scale Items
Items | Loadings |
|---|---|
1. I feel as if what happens to me is mostly determined by other people. | −.69 |
2. I certainly feel helpless at times.a | −.74 |
3. There is no way I can solve some of the problems I have.b | −.76 |
4. Sometimes I feel that I’m not able to accomplish what I want. | −.74 |
5. I have little control over the things that happen to me.b | −.79 |
6. I often feel unable to deal with the problems of life.b | −.78 |
7. There is little I can do to change many of the important things in my life.b | −.70 |
Factor Analysis of Authenticity Scale Items
Items | Loadings |
|---|---|
1. I feel most people don’t know the “real” me. | .68 |
2. I find I can almost always be myself. | −.76 |
3. I feel people expect me to be different than I really am. | .61 |
4. I think most people accept who I really am. | −.72 |
5. I just wish I were more able to be myself. | .78 |
6. I feel the way in which I generally act reflects the “real” me. | −.71 |
7. I often do not feel I am myself. | .76 |
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Burke, P.J., Harrod, M.M. (2021). Ethnic Identity Measurement and Verification. In: Brenner, P.S., Stets, J.E., Serpe, R.T. (eds) Identities in Action. Frontiers in Sociology and Social Research, vol 6. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-76966-6_2
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