Cultural Identity

Dr. W. Terrell JonesVice Provost for Educational EquityThe Pennsylvania State University

www.equity.psu.edu

Six Observations

1. All of us have multiple identities, some of which we may identify with more than others.

2. We often experience contradictory urges or needs for a sense of belonging or "fitting in" as well as a feeling of uniqueness or specialness.

3. Some differences or identities exact a higher and/or different price for the bearer in a particular societal, historical, or situational context.

Six Observations continued

4. Some individuals have a choice of becoming recognized as members of a particular identity or choosing to remain anonymous.

5. Individual identities are always changing and developing.

6. The development of an individual identity does not preclude the development of shared goals and purpose.

Summary of Some Characteristics of White Racial Identity Ego Statuses

Adapted from J.E. Helms, 1992

Types of Ego Status

General Description Behavioral-Cognitive Dimensions

Contact Naiveté, obliviousness to sociopolitical implications to race

Has difficulty consciously thinking of self as White; claims to be color-blind and thinks it a positive attribute

Disintegration Disorientation and confusion

First conscious acknowledgement of the value of being White; awareness of racial moral dilemmas is salient

Summary of Some Characteristics of White Racial Identity Ego Statuses

Adapted from J.E. Helms, 1992

Type of Ego Status

General Description Behavioral-Cognitive Dimensions

Reintegration Endorsement of White superiority and supremacy is guiding theme

Displaced anger and hostility toward people of color is in the forefront; identity is maintained by increasing White privilege

Adapted from J.E. Helms, 1992

Type of Ego Status

General Description Behavioral-Cognitive Dimensions

Pseudo-independence

Intellectualized acknowledgement of implications of racial-group membership; feels responsible for “helping” the less fortunate groups become more like Whites

Attempts to resolve racial tensions by feeling guilty; believes that racism is not personally relevant if one has a friend of color; contends that racism is engaged in only bad Whites

Summary of Some Characteristics of White Racial Identity Ego Statuses

Summary of Some Characteristics of White Racial Identity Ego Statuses

Adapted from J.E. Helms, 1992

Type of Ego Status

General Description Behavioral-Cognitive Dimensions

A search to define and abandon personal racism and to define a nonracist White identity

Attempts to help Whites understand their role in perpetuating racism; tries to build a network of nonracist Whites

Autonomy Racial humanism; internally defined nonracist identity; valuing of racial diversity

Seeks opportunities to increase the diversity in his or her life; does not force White culture on others

Immersion and emersion

Five Functions of Identity

1. Buffering Function Refers to those actions that allow for psychological protection and self-defense against everyday encounters with racism

Serves as a shield against unavoidable or unsuspected racist encounters

Can also be applied or used in ways that block or limit opportunities for development and growth

Five Functions of Identity

2. Bonding FunctionRelates to the degree to which a person derives meaning and support from affiliation with or attachment to people of one’s race and one’s culture

Five Functions of Identity

3. Bridging FunctionRefers to abilities associated with being comfortable moving back and forth between one’s own culture and that of another

A person with this function can experience high levels of comfort and joy with opportunities to learn about other cultures and in sharing with and educating others

Five Functions of Identity

4. Code-switching FunctionAn ability to temporarily accommodate to norms and regulations of a group, organization, school, or workplace

A natural defense for situations where other groups express uneasiness with different norms and values

Five Functions of Identity

5. Individualism FunctionAn expression of one’s uniqueness

One’s individual personality allows one to act in a race-neutral fashion in accord with individual norms, likes, and dislikes

Racial/Ethnic Identity Development Models and StatusesFrom Cross, 1971, Atkinson, Morten, and Sue,

1989, 1990, and Helms, 1992

Negro-to-Black

Minority Identity

Development

Composite Description

Pre-encounter Conformity Minimization of membership or denigration of one’s own as well as other visible racial and ethnic groups*; idealization of Whites and White culture

Encounter Dissonance Disorientation and confusion regarding own-group and majority-group affiliation and appreciation

* Refers collectively to Asian, Black, Native, and Hispanic Americans of color

Racial/Ethnic Identity Development Models and StatusesFrom Cross, 1971, Atkinson, Morten, and Sue,

1989, 1990, and Helms, 1992

Negro-to-Black

Minority Identity

Development

Composite Description

Immersion and emersion

Resistance and immersion

Idealization of one’s own visible racial and ethnic group* and physical and psychological withdrawal into one’s own group; rejection and denigration of “Whiteness”

Introspection Search for more rational group self-definition and more balanced intergroup relations

* Refers collectively to Asian, Black, Native, and Hispanic Americans of color

Racial/Ethnic Identity Development Models and StatusesFrom Cross, 1971, Atkinson, Morten, and Sue,

1989, 1990, and Helms, 1992

Negro-to-Black

Minority Identity

Development

Composite Description

Internalization Integrative Awareness

Positive sense of visible racial and ethnic group* self, capacity to value and respect other racial and ethnic groups

Internalization and commitment

Recognition of shared oppressions with broad range of societal groups and the will to promote change

* Refers collectively to Asian, Black, Native, and Hispanic Americans of color

Cultural Identity

Dr. W. Terrell JonesVice Provost for Educational EquityThe Pennsylvania State University

www.equity.psu.edu