Cultural Differences

This paper addresses ethnic identity in relationship to that of a teenager. The paper will discuss the emotional barriers that teens face when trying to research his or her identity. This paper will also address racial identity. The paper will address racial identity in African Americans.

The Search for Ethnic Identity

Identity formation for a person of color, an immigrant or even a person moving to a different country, have to seek relationships with others. As a teenager this can be a difficult challenge. There are many settings where a teenager may come into contact with those of different cultures. Home, school, and other social settings make the teenager aware of cultural differences. During the process of searching for ethnic identity young people may need to explore his or her values, ethics, sexuality, and gender.

Teenagers are learning to fit in, it is at this time in his or her life he or she is learning what makes them who they are. Identity formation is a challenge for teens they believe that they are different from others because of race, gender or ethnic culture. The process of adjusting is acculturation; this includes adjusting his or her behavior to meet the expectations of a new environment (PBS). Teens during the acculturation process often have to choose between two sets of values, and identities. Some teens will become bicultural, which is the ability to function in one or more cultures. This gives the teen the ability to fit in to different cultures.

Often a teen may find that there is trouble in the family, as he or she is struggling with his or her identity. Often teens have different ethnicities or heritages, or the family has relocated, which makes it more difficult upon the teen. Teens exposed to a parent's culture may have an easier time adapting to his or her culture. Families who actively teach their children about culture increase their teens' happiness with their culture, their commitment to their culture, and their ability to function in more than one cultural setting (PBS). Teens still face identity crisis in social settings like school; this is where the teen encounters many different races, ethnic identities, and cultural differences. The teen may face different struggles in his or her quest to find his or her identity. Ultimately the teen will have to look at different cultural identities, to decide who he or she wants to become.

For the teen developing an understanding of his or her values, gender, religion, race, and even sexual preference makes formation of his or her identity easier. Forming the person a teen will become relies upon parental guidance, social interaction, and the teen. Ethnic identity manifests itself in daily behaviors, attitudes, and ways of how the teen does things.

Racial Identity

Racial identity is often based upon the color of one's skin color (O'Hearn, 1998).