Identity Development
Identity Development
Introduction
Sociologists have for a considerable period of time concentrated on white ethnic identity with little being talked about with regard to white racial identity. In this text, I discuss how Caucasian Americans adopt a white racial identity. I also come up with a definition of the term “white guilt” and examine the professional issues, needs as well as culturally sensitive interventions for this group.
The components
Harvey et al. (2009) notes that a person’s identity development is a process that may be described as lifelong. Rockquemore et al. (2005) indicates that there are four basic stages or components for that matter that might be used to describe how Caucasian Americans adopt a white racial identity. This components include pre-encounter, encounter, emersion and lastly internalization. Pre-encounter is made up of the belief that Caucasian Americans abandon their own identity in favor of the white identity. This is basically idealization.
The encounter component propels the individual concerned into reality maybe through a real world happening that informs them of the reality of racism. This is the genesis of the immersion stage where an individual reevaluates his or her identity and finally develops or adopts a white racial identity in the internalization stage.
Rockquemore et al. (2005) defines white guilt as a conceptual feeling of guilt quite a number of white people experience for the present as well as historical racist treatment subjected to those who are not whites, that is, ‘people of color’. With regard to the culturally sensitive interventions for this group, Harvey et al. (2009) notes that working initiatives to be appreciative of diversity should be undertaken. Individuals in this group should acknowledge or subscribe to their white identity but in doing so, foster tolerance and understanding to other group as well.
Conclusion
It is important to note that identity development is an area that needs more research. This is because the simultaneous reflections as well as observations that inform this very process are not yet well defined in the current texts.
References
Harvey, C.P., & Allard, M.J. (2009). Understanding and managing diversity 4th Edition. Pearson Prentice Hall
Rockquemore, K., & Laszloffy T. A. (2005). Moving Beyond Tragedy: A Multidimensional Model of Mixed-Race Identity, Raising Biracial Children, 1st Edition. Lanham, MD: AltaMira Press
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