Definition of ethnicity, culture and identity
- What is ethnicity, culture and identity?
- What is personal and social identity?
- Activity 3 - Understanding cultural identity and knowledge of other cultures
- Activity 4 - Buffy and Dairo
- Activity 5 - Mr and Mrs Brown
What is ethnicity, culture and identity?
Ethnicity - belonging to a group that shares the same characteristics, such as country of origin, language, religion, ancestry and culture. Ethnicity is a matter of biological and historical fact and is not changed by the culture in which a person grows up.
Culture - describes what people develop to enable them to adapt to their world, such as language, gestures, tools to enable them to survive and prosper, customs and traditions that define values and organise social interactions, religious beliefs and rituals, and dress, art, and music to make symbolic and aesthetic expressions.
Culture determines the practices and beliefs that become associated with an ethnic group and provides its distinctive identity.
Identity - classified as an individual's personal identity, social identity or ethnic identity.
What is personal and social identity?
Personal identity is the way in which a person defines themselves in terms of their individuality and difference to others. This might include factors such as age, gender, nationality, culture, religious affiliation, disability, sexuality, interests, talents, personality traits, and family and friendship networks. The way in which a person sees themself in relation to those around them, and what makes them unique, are all aspects of personal identity.
Part of our personal identity is given to us at birth, such as gender, nationality and genetic history. Other aspects of our personal identity are formed during our early years of development and continue to develop during our life as we grow, mature, make choices, forge relationships and build an evolving identity for ourselves.
Social identity is how we function within many different social situations and relate to a range of other people. Social groups may involve family, ethnic communities, cultural connections, nationality, friends and work. They are an important and valued part of our daily life. How we see ourselves in relation to our social groupings defines our social identity.
Children who have been separated from their family or country of origin may become confused about their personal and social identities. They may have experienced a number of moves, been cared for by different people in different places, lost important contacts and relationships from their past, been separated from family, friends and their ethnic and cultural networks.
Feeling or being made to feel different is a major issue for children who have been adopted, particularly for children from diverse cultural backgrounds or with a disability. For the adopted child, the stigma of not living with their birth family, living as a cultural or ethnic minority and becoming accustomed to what it means to be adopted are lifelong adjustments.
Ethnic identity refers to a person's sense of belonging to an ethnic group. Ethnic identity is drawn from the realisation that a person's thoughts, perceptions, feelings and behaviours are consistent with those of other members of the ethnic group. Ethnic identity recognises that a person belongs to a particular group that shares not only ethnicity but common cultural practices.
Refer to the list of suggested reading for further information on ethnicity, culture and identity.
Activity 3 - Understanding cultural identity and knowledge of other cultures
In your learning journal, comment on the following questions:
- What is your earliest memory of a person of another race, culture or ethnicity?
- Are you currently involved with people from a different culture or ethnicity from your own?
- Have you ever felt part of a minority group? If so, how did this make you feel?
- What is your understanding of the culture of the country from which you wish to adopt a child?
- Are there any resources available within your community to assist you in raising an adopted child from overseas?
- What are the similarities and differences between your own culture and the culture of the country from which you wish to adopt a child?
Activity 4 - Buffy and Dairo
Buffy's story
I wish my parents had encouraged me to learn about my culture. They occasionally took me to Chinese restaurants to have fried ice-cream. Chinese, Vietnamese - it was all the same to them. They never talked to me about the fact that I am Vietnamese.
Maybe they could forget, but I couldn't because I am yellow and they are white. It would have made a difference if I had met someone who looked like me before the age of 15.
Dairo's story
My parents have tried to give my sister and I an understanding of our culture in their own little ways. When I was younger, we used to go to picnics with other families who have adopted children from Colombia. Our house got its share of wall hangings and ornaments from Colombia.
I always liked having these bits and pieces around me. They were a reminder of my roots, and there for my sister and I.
Sure, my parents got them because they liked them, but I know that they got them so that there would be a piece of where I came from for myself
In your learning journal, comment on the following questions:
- What are your thoughts about Buffy wishing that her adoptive parents had encouraged her to learn about her culture? How would you provide your child with opportunities to understand their cultural background?
- What is your attitude towards acknowledging biological, racial and culture differences?
Activity 5 - Mr and Mrs Brown
Mr and Mrs Brown have been married for seven years and are aged 42 and 33 respectively. Mr and Mrs Brown have consciously chosen not to have children of their own and seek to adopt a child from a third world country. They advised that their interest in adoption is the result of their experience travelling through Asia and Africa and seeing the plight of young children.
Both believe that they do not need to, or will ever need to parent a biological child in order to feel fulfilled, and are eager to offer an orphan a stable and loving family environment.
Mr and Mrs Brown have indicated that their families have been encouraging them for years to start a family. They believe that since advising family members of their decision to adopt a child from Ethiopia, the pressure to have a child has disappeared.
Mr and Mrs Brown have indicated their desire to parent an older child of school age. They believe that as older children are more difficult to place, it would be appropriate for them to offer such a child a home. Mr and Mrs Brown indicated that they have special skills and abilities that will assist them to meet the particular needs of an older child.
Mrs Brown is a qualified special education teacher with a long history of working with children with behavioural problems. She has written programs designed to assist teachers to manage children with specific learning and behavioural difficulties. Mr Brown is a university lecturer in education and is currently completing his Master's degree. He has indicated that he has a particular interest in the Ethiopian culture and is eager to establish links with the Ethiopian community in Queensland.
Mr and Mrs Brown believe that their expectations of a child adopted at an older age are realistic and they are prepared for any difficulties that may arise. It is their hope that they can return to visit Ethiopia with the child at a later date.
Mr and Mrs Brown are in a financially sound position and own a home on acreage in Brisbane. Mrs Brown plans to take leave from her employment for twelve months, but after that period she will be returning to work on a full time basis. Recent medicals indicate that both Mr and Mrs Brown are in sound physical health. However, Mrs Brown has been advised that she needs to ensure that her weight does not increase further.
In your learning journal, comment on the following questions:
- Can you identify the potential strengths and weaknesses of Mr and Mrs Brown as prospective adoptive parents from the information provided?
- In considering the couple's ability to maintain an adopted child's culture, what knowledge and skills would you be looking for?
- Last updated
- 19 October 2007