Article,
Gender, racial, ethnic, sexual, and class identities
ANNUAL REVIEW OF PSYCHOLOGY, (1997)
Abstract
Identity is the individual's psychological relationship to particular
social category systems. This chapter summarizes how people create and
negotiate their gender, racial, ethnic, sexual, and class identities.
Theories, methods, and priorities in each of these content areas
differ. However, each systematically excludes particular research
participants and thus ignores the complexity of people's multiple
social identities. Research suggests that gender, racial, ethnic,
sexual, and class identities are fluid, multidimensional, personalized
social constructions that reflect the individual's current context and
sociohistorical cohort. However, far too little empirical work captures
the richly textured, theoretical conceptions of identity development,
maintenance, and change. Innovative methods for assessing the content
and structure of people's identities now exist. Future research should
include groups other than young children or college students; should
explore functions of identity other than just self-esteem adjustment,
or well-being; and should implement methodologies that are longitudinal
and that assess people's many social identities.
