The Development of Ethnic Awareness, Identity. and Attitdes in Ethnic Majority and Minority Children

Research into children’s ethnic awareness, identification, and attitudes has been ongoing for the past eight decades. This research had a limited focus, measuring one component of ethnic awareness or ethnic attitudes. Results indicated that ethnic majority and ethnic minority children have developed ethnic awareness by about 5- years and that it becomes increasingly sophisticated with age. In addition, the results have revealed that ethnic majority children show consistently more positive attitudes towards their ethnic in-group. In contrast, the ethnic attitudes of minority groups are less conclusive. The results of some studies matched those of the ethnic majority, others reported less positive attitudes towards the in-group, while still others reported no differences in the attitudes between the ethnic in-group and ethnic out-group. The present program of research sought to examine a range of factors that have been proposed to contribute to the development of ethnic awareness and ethnic attitudes in ethnic majority and ethnic minority children. The examination of these factors in children from ethnic majority (Anglo-Australian) and ethnic minority (Pacific Islander) groups enabled a unique insight into the development of ethnic awareness and ethnic attitudes in children.