America is on the verge of a racial melting point due to the expansion of multiracial individuals. The definitions that fit an individual are framed by ethnic or racial identity. Conceptualizing the multidimensional constructs consists of the diverse attitudes amongst the people. As such, race is a discourse subject that raises issues affiliated with discrimination. Racial identity development (RID) is a critical issue that governs an individual’s growth. RID also affects social relations that develop within a speculated timeline (McLean et al., 2017). Community is amongst the factors that affect RID in terms of contingent socialization and community diversity. When individuals come from less diverse populations, they are prone to experience high discrimination and various challenges affiliated with racial identity (LaBarrie, 2017). At the age of 5, children start developing a sense of identity, exploring what it means to come from their race. It is the societal biasness that affects their ability to gain a positive identity and self-esteem.
Ethnic identity is defined by an individual’s attachment to their sense of belonging, exploring the engagement activities in terms of increasing their knowledge, and the urge to connect with other cultures surrounding them. Identity achievement is a multidimensional concept that incorporates self-categorization into a group, be it positive or negative (Roth & Ivemark, 2018). Living in a diverse community can make an individual appreciate other races or engulf their feelings in a lagoon whereby they develop a negative outlook for other communities. For instance, when an individual lives in a highly diverse community, they can experience identity purgatory. The identity purgatory makes a person fail in terms of expressing themselves as posed in their racial identity (LaBarrie, 2017). Nevertheless, when a community has diversity, they can contribute to healthier social relations. Kids raised in an ambient condition where they accept the community are prone to miss discriminative measures.
References
LaBarrie, T. (2017). Multiracial identity development: illuminating influential factor. Family Institute at Northwestern University.
McLean, K., Lilgendahl, J., Fordham, C., Alpert, E., Marsden, E., Szymanowski, K., & McAdams, D. (2017). Identity development in cultural context: The role of deviating from master narratives. Journal of Personality, 86(4), 631-651. Web.
Roth, W., & Ivemark, B. (2018). Genetic options: the impact of genetic ancestry testing on consumers’ racial and ethnic identities. American Journal of Sociology, 124(1), 150-184. Web.