Key Issue

1. DEVELOPING A SENSE OF IDENTITY IN A MULTICULTURAL FRAMEWORKbyMary C. Sengstock, Ph.D., C.C.S.Professor of SociologyWayne State UniversityDetroit, MI

2. Key Issue Developing a Sense of Identity … In a “Mixed” Environment: • Mixed Races • Mixed Nationalities • Mixed Religions No Unified Definition: From Family … Community … Society

3. U.S. a “Diverse Nation” • Multiple Religions, Races, National Origins • Colonial Times, Revolutionary, Early 19th Century (Several “Minority” Protestants) • Late 19th & Early 20th Centuries: Irish (Catholic!); Jews; Italians; E. Europe; Mexico • Increased Racial, Religious, & National Diversity with 1965 Immigration Law

4. Divergent Meanings of “Diversity” Models of Multi-Culturalism/Diversity • Anglo-Conformity: All Can Come – Must Adopt Culture of Anglo Founders • Melting Pot: All Can Come – Must Merge Into a Broader Picture: Mixture of Cultures • Assimilation”: The Process By Which Groups Form into One – May Be Different Patterns • Multi-Culturalism: Many Different Cultures Co-Exist Harmoniously Together

5. Variation in Views of “Diversity” Across Nations • Canada: Official Multi-Culturalism: “Integration” • Australia: “White Australia”  2-Way Acculturation • France: “Defined Mono-Culturalism” • Trinidad & Tobago: “Tossed Salad” • Race Not Necessarily a Divider • Divisions Economic & Cultural

6. Multi-Culturalism v. Assimilation Group A Group B Group C

7. Individuals in Diversity: 2 Types • Cultural “Retainers”: • Identified With the Ethnic Group • Stayed Within the Ethnic Group • “Hyphenated Americans” • Cultural “Assimilators”: • Joined the “Larger Community” • Preferred to be Known as “Just Americans”

8. 2 Foci for Ethnic Research • “Retainers”: • The “Hyphenated-Americans” – The “PROBLEM” • Why do Some People Want to Retain Their Ethnic Culture & Identity? • “Assimilators”: • People Who Moved Into the Larger Community • Considered to Be the “Normal” Ones • Not a “PROBLEM”!

9. Past Ethnic Research • Ignored the “Assimilators” – WHY? • Considered to Be the “Normal Ones” • Wanted to be “American” – Like US! • Not the “ODDBALLS”! • Not the “Problem” – the SOLUTION! • Would Produce a “Unified Society” 1 Culture – 1 Language – 1 Religion – 1 People • “Melting Pot”  “Anglo-Conformity”

10. Key Question – Long Ignored • What Is It Like To Be an “Assimilator”? • Ignored Until 1990s: Inter-RACIAL Issues Arose • Why Do THESE People Want In? • However – the Issues Are Very Similar: • Inter- RACIAL Identity & Boundaries • Inter-CULTURAL Identity & Boundaries • What Is It Like to Grow Up @ the Boundaries?

11. The Diversity Study • “Qualitative” (Informal) Interviews • 30 Respondents from “Mixed” Families • S.E. Michigan & Washington, DC Areas • Aged 18 Through 70 (Raised In Different Eras) • Major Categories: • Inter-Racial – 10 • Inter-Nationality – 14 (Some Also Multi-Religion) • Inter-Religion – 3 (All Christian-Jewish) • “Other”– 3 (Immigration; Social Class; Stepparent)

12. Historical Cultural Boundaries • Colonial America: Scots-Irish – “Dumb Bums” • R.C. Irish – “Papists”! • Italians – Also “Papists”! • Jews – Not Christian! • Papists – Not “Really” Christian (Idolators) • All Seen as DIFFERENT RACES In Their Time!

13. 20th Century: Impact of Race • Skin Color Was the One Similarity • At Least These People Had “White” Skin • Many White Ethnic Groups Capitalized on Their “White” Skin • Eventually They “Assimilated” – With Difficulty • Charles H. Anderson, 1970. White Protestant Americans: From National Origins to Religious Group. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.

14. Life at the Group “Boundaries” • What’s It Like to “Assimilate” – Either Type? • What’s It Like Growing Up at the Boundaries? • The Subject of the Book: Voices of Diversity • Anderson Described It – No One Listened! • People Assume It Must Be Hard to Be Multi-RACIAL – Why Assume It Would Be Easy to Be Multi-CULTURAL?

15. Diverse Socialization: Painful! • Being “Different” (Like Any Ethnic Group): • Physical Differences (Skin Color Issues) • Cultural (Large Households; Religion; Education) • Issues Specifically Related to Family Diversity • Misunderstanding Family Cultures & Diversity • Self/Group Identification (Who Are These People?) • Perceived Non-Acceptance by Larger Community • Non-Acceptance Even by Own Communities

16. Race v. Culture: Differences • Traits Obvious – Impossible to Ignore • Outsiders Comfortable Inserting Their Views • “Hiding” or “Passing” Is Impossible/Difficult • Distinction for Exclusion, Not Inclusion (Karen) • Problems Persist, Never Left Behind (Jeanette) • Cannot Escape – Even When Alone or With Close Friends and Family – Constant Topic • Affects Some “Whites” (Italians, Middle East)

17. Race & Culture Similarities Some Impacts Are Similar Between Race & Culture Varies With the Level of Social Structure • MACRO: Larger Society (Government, Economy) • MESO: Local Community (School, Neighbors) • MICRO: Interpersonal Relations (Family, Friendships)

18. Developing a Sense of Identity • Sense of Self: “Who Am I?” • Sense of Group: “Who Are WE?” • Issues: • Skin Color; Surname; Religion; Language • Loss of the Mother’s Culture • Loss of Subtle Cultural Differences : • “Hispanics” – “Asians”  • “Mixed” Families – Different Responses: • From Different Family/Community Members

19. Self Identity: Choices People Make(Are Forced to Make?) • Often Forced to “Choose One”: • Very Much Resented (Teresa) • Mixed Race Identity: Psychological “Misfits”! • Results: • Single Identity Choices : • 1 Parent Absent; Personal Choice (Adam, Vickie, Jeff) • Mixed Identity Worth the Effort! • “Dual Identity” People ; “Heinz 57” (Peggy, Grace) • “Mixed” People Comfortable with “Mixed” (Deanna)

20. Community Influences • U.S. Culture & Bureaucracy (“Choose One!)  • Local Communities:   • “Choose One” – Schools; Ethnic Communities! • Identity Based on Outward Appearances • Presumed Black (v. Hispanic, Asian) (Anita; Deanna) • Surname or Foreign Accent (Sam; Sarah) • Looks & Surname Do Not “Match” (Jeanette; Vickie) • Cultural Differences More Critical (Evelyn; Deanna) • Determine Ways Family Members Behave

21. Community Impact on Individuals • Multi-Racial Persons (Some Multi-Cultural): • Experienced Community Exclusion • Often By One or Another of Their Own Groups! • Mixed Culture Individuals: • Expected to Identify as “Just White” • Special Problem in Schools: Critical for Identity • Not Hospitable to “Mixed” Children • “Pick One” Ridicule  Rejection (Anita; Regina) • Primary School through College!

22. Macro Level • Census Bureau – Racial Categories • Most Questionnaires, School Forms • Pressure to “Pick One Box” • Leslie: Filipino/White • Anita: “NOT Hispanic!” • Teresa: Mixed v. Black • Worst with Racial Categories • True with Some Others as Well • EX: Middle East = Arab

23. Meso Level • Community Involvement in Decisions • “Community Told Us Who We Were!” • Community Discrimination • “Don’t Belong Here!” “Not One of Us!” • Ethnic Group Pressure to Identify … • “Girl, You’re Black!” • Concurrent with Rejection • “Well, Not Really Black!”

24. Influence of Society, Institutions • U.S. Culture & Bureaucracy (“Choose One!”)  • Local Institutions:   • “Choose One” – Schools; Ethnic Communities! • Identity Based on Outward Appearances • Presumed Black (v. Mexican, Korean) (Anita; Deanna) • Surname or Foreign Accent (Sam; Sarah) • Looks & Surname Do Not “Match” (Jeanette; Vickie) • Cultural Differences More Critical (Evelyn; Deanna) • Determine Ways Family Members Behave

25. Special Problem for Women • Constant Change of Surnames for Women • Impact on Women’s “Sense of Identity”? • 1st 20 Years – Identified With Father • Marriage – 2nd Identity Change to Husband • Divorce/Remarriage – 3rd Identity Change • Subsequent Changes? How Many? • Impact on Woman’s Sense of Self? • Does She Ever Have a Constant Sense of Self?

26. Influence of Community • Community Involvement in Decisions • “Community Told Us Who We Were!” • Community Discrimination • “Don’t Belong Here!” “Not One of Us!” • Ethnic Group Pressure to Identify … • “Girl, You’re Black!” • Concurrent with Rejection • “Well, Not Really Black!”

27. Micro Level:Influence of Family • Lack of Family Input/Assistance • “Just Say You’re Irish.” • “Skin Color is Like Having Big Ears.” • Family Conflicts • Leslie: Family “Took Sides” on Racial Lines • “Won’t Go to Thanksgiving Anymore!” • Sarah: “Religion Goes with the Mother” … “No! Father!”

28. Summary: Impact on Individuals • Multi-Racial Persons (Some Multi-Cultural): • Experienced Community Exclusion • Often By One or Another of Their Own Groups! • Mixed Culture Individuals: • Expected to Identify as “Just White” • Special Problem in Schools: Critical for Identity • Not Hospitable to “Mixed” Children • “Pick One” – Ridicule – Rejection (Anita; Regina) • Primary School through College!

29. Stresses of Being the “Assimilator” • Identity Questions: Individual; Group • Mixed Messages About Identity • Not Totally Accepted as "American” • Not Totally Accepted By Ethnic Communities • Not Totally Accepted By Own Family • Constantly Reminded of the “Other Side” • Solution: Seek Others Who Are Mixed

30. Assets of Diverse Families • Value of a Positive & Supportive Social Setting • Talk About the Differences! (Jeanette; Karen) • Focus on Shared Similarities: • Language (s) (Anita) • Religion (or Importance of Religion) (Vickie) • Political/Educational Goals (Sarah; Jeff) • Emphasize Family Ties – Not Culture (Anita)

31. Lessons from Diverse Families • Distinguish Important & Unimportant Issues • Siblings Adopt Different Family Patterns • Divergent Patterns Among Siblings • Acceptance of Different Choices (Vickie; Anita) • Multi-Cultural/Racial More Acceptable Today • Better Than Being Part of an Non-Favored Group • Hope for the Future! (Karen)

32. Continuity Over Time …Similarity of Culture & Race • Nationality & Religious Differences – 1940s Through 1970s • Racial Differences – 1980s – 1990s • Similarities in Communal Experiences

33. A New Dimension/Problem:New Level Global • Growth in Inter-National Contacts • Similarities and Differences in Managing Diversity Across Nations (B. Marshall, Chap. 11) • Increased Contact Between Immigrants (& Their Children) & Nation of Origin • Increased International Contact Generally • Increasingly an International Community • Impact on U.S. Assimilation? On Individuals?

34. Applied Chapters • Advice for Families: How to Provide Support for Children from Diverse Backgrounds • Dr. MC Sengstock, Chapter 8 • Effectiveness of a Diversity Program in Middle School • Dr. Sonya Berkley, Chapter 9 • A Program for Assisting Families Coping with Diversity • Dr. Arifa Javed, Chapter 10 • Comparison of Diversity in Canada, Australia, France, and Trinidad and Tobago to U.S. • Dr. Brenda Marshall, Chapter 11

35. QUESTION? WILL WE LEARN ANYTHING NEW FOR TOMORROW?

36. Conclusions • U.S. Has Not Really Come Up with Anything New • Practiced Discrimination Against People from Different Nationalities, Religions & Races for Over 400 Years • Often Defined Nationalities As Races • “Different” Christians Once Treated Like Jews & Muslims At Later Periods

37. Voices of Diversity: Multi-Culturalism in America by Mary C. Sengstock, Ph.D., C.C.S. with contributions by Arifa K. Javed, Ph.D., C.S.P. Sonya Berkley, Ph.D., Brenda I. Marshall, Ph.D. New York: Springer, Spring, 2009.