Understanding ethnic diversity - The role of ethnic identity

Models of minority ethnic identity and White identity development are described along with examples of ways in which the models can be used as heuristics for helping students to think about their own and others' ethnicity. Ethnic or racial identity formation depends on a process of exploration that includes questioning preexisting ethnic attitudes and searching into the past and present experiences of one's group and its relations with other groups. This process leads ideally to the development of a secure, positive sense of one's identity as a member of an ethnic or racial group, together with an acceptance of other groups. By exploring their own and others' ethnic identity, students can gain insight into the implications of ethnicity in a diverse society.