Racial and Ethnic Identity and the feelings of Acceptance and Belongingness Essay Example for Free

Racial and Ethnic Identity and the feelings of Acceptance and Belongingness Essay Ethnicity generally refers to a person’s affiliation with a particular ethnic group, or to their sharing qualities, characteristics or customs of that ethnic group. Ethnic identity, on the other hand, has been linked to the sense of belongingness and identification of an individual within a cultural group. The first use of ethnic identity in 1896 by French nationalist and scientist, George Vacher de la Pouge, was synonymous with racial identity which means the â€Å"natural and counterfeit cultural, psychological and social characteristics of a population. † (Timble) According to Smith, â€Å"Ethnic identity is the sum total of group member feelings about those values, symbols, and common histories that identify them as a distinct groupâ€Å" (Smith, 1991) Charlesworth (2000) maintained ethnic identity development to be an essential human need that provided a sense of belonging and historical continuity and created a foundation on which to build a concept of self. On the other hand, Tajfel (1981) described ethnic identity as part of an individual’s self-concept developed from knowledge of membership in a cultural group and the value or emotional significance attached to that membership. However, moving to another community with different culture and ethnicity, like in the case of migration, compromises the maintenance or preservation of ethnicity in relation to the individual’s belongingness to the majority. Parents of the next generation strengthen ethnic identity development of their children by ethnic socialization. Ethnic socialization consists of three themes: 1) understanding ones own culture, 2) getting along in mainstream society, and 3) dealing with racism. (Steinberg, 1996) Racism and racial discrimination has long been a concern of the immigrants and their descendants. The inherent characteristics like skin color, language, religion are parameters in racial identity which sometimes lead to racial discrimination. Belongingness sometimes adapts the adage â€Å"When in Rome, do as the Romans do† which lose their own self-identity and ethnic identity. Maintenance and preservation of ethnicity and original culture is subjected to a strong pressure of the host country’s culture. For example, language is an important issue for the immigrants. The influence of the communication speeds up to learn the host language that previously, the adaptation of language is in the third generation, now the trend is in the children of immigrants. The growing population and influx of immigrants face debates regarding complex issues which dictate acceptance and belongingness of the immigrants to the host country. Prejudice and discrimination may be directed toward an immigrant’s status as a newcomer as well as against his or her ethnicity or race. In Europe, there is a growing concern on how the immigrants affect their culture and national identity which comes with common language, heritage and ethnicity. (Cohen, 2000) Further queries have been raised whether or not to absorb the immigrants and allow them to participate in their national activities or to allow them to become their citizen without the thorough knowledge of their culture and heritage. During elections, opposition to immigration is always an issue in some countries like Britain, Switzerland, Denmark, Italy and Sweden. (Cohen, 2000) Immigrants in some countries are also subjects of distrusts and fear. Opposition to immigrants often claims that immigrants have something to do with crimes and unemployment, if not low-wage jobs. Racial discrimination tends to set in which affects the acceptance of immigrants to the host country and if not properly addressed to by the government will give negative effect to both the immigrants and the host country. Ethnic discrimination was identified by Garbarino (1999) to be one of the risk factors that contributed to youth violence. Rejection and estrangement from the macroculture experienced by many children significantly contributes to acts of violence. Consequently, immigration issues become the central topic for studies of different researchers and sociologists to minimize conflicts. (Garbarino, 1999) There have been clamor that immigrants are linked with social crimes in the host countries. This was contradicted by some researchers who conducted related studies. Based on the studies in Little Village conducted by the Harvard sociologist Robert J. Sampson, having high number of immigrants does not mean high number of crime. Though Little Village is poor, a relatively low incidence of violence is recorded. (Eval Press, 2006) At least, inacceptance and prejudices to immigrants and their children will lessen a bit by the findings of the researchers done by these sociologists.