ABSTRACT

The aim of the present study was to examine how Swedish youth a) experience diversity and b) link those diversity experiences to their identities. Using a mixed-method approach, we coded written narratives for type of diversity experience, meaning-making, and analyzed qualitative differences due to the proximity of the setting and self-defined in- and outgroups. Out of 197 participants (age 15–29), 63 (31.5%) wrote about diversity in their narratives, and of those, 55 (87%) derived meaning about themselves or others. Qualitative differences were found between participants who self-identified with a majority, minority, or mixed ethnic identities. Youth who identified with a majority identity generally experienced being in the majority in the macro-setting while a lack of diversity in their micro-settings, and mainly derived meanings related to the ethnic identities of others. Youth who identified with minority or mixed ethnic identities, experienced being the minority in both micro- and macro-settings, and mainly derived meanings related to their own ethnic identity, such as enhanced identities or issues of belongingness. Results suggest that experiences of diversity trigger ethnic identity development, however, in a segregated society with unequal opportunities and power relations, those experiences and how they inform ethnic identity significantly vary significantly due to background.

摘要

本研究的目的是研究瑞典青年如何 a) 体验多样性以及 b) 将这些多样性体验与他们的身份联系起来。我们使用混合方法，针对多样性体验类型、意义建构对书面叙述进行编码，并分析由于环境接近和自定义内外群体而导致的定性差异。在 197 名参与者（15-29 岁）中，63 名 (31.5%) 在他们的叙述中写下了多样性，其中 55 名 (87%) 获得了关于他们自己或他人的意义。在自我认同多数、少数或混合种族身份的参与者之间发现了质的差异。认同多数身份的青年通常在宏观环境中处于多数，而在微观环境中缺乏多样性，并且主要派生出与他人的种族身份相关的意义。认同少数族裔或混合族裔身份的青年人，在微观和宏观环境中都经历过自己是少数族裔，并且主要衍生出与他们自己的族裔身份相关的意义，例如增强的身份认同或归属感问题。结果表明，多样性的经历会引发种族认同的发展，然而，在一个机会和权力关系不平等的隔离社会中，这些经历以及它们如何影响种族认同会因背景而有很大差异。例如增强的身份或归属感问题。结果表明，多样性的经历会引发种族认同的发展，然而，在一个机会和权力关系不平等的隔离社会中，这些经历以及它们如何影响种族认同会因背景而有很大差异。例如增强的身份或归属感问题。结果表明，多样性的经历会引发种族认同的发展，然而，在一个机会和权力关系不平等的隔离社会中，这些经历以及它们如何影响种族认同会因背景而有很大差异。