Ethnic Identity of Urban Indigenous Adolescents in Taiwan

Abstract

Amid Taiwan's industrialization and changing production methods, indigenous tribes' economies were affected, leading to the emergence of "urban indigenous people." However, subsequent generations are city-born and raised, receiving city-centric education. This makes it difficult for urban indigenous descendants to have a sense of identity with traditional tribal culture and indigenous identity. Therefore, this study hopes to understand how urban indigenous adolescents establish their ethnic identity. This study conducted semi-structured interviews with six urban indigenous adolescents aged between 12 and 18 years. The research results indicate that the ethnic identity of urban indigenous adolescents shows evident cultural disconnection, slight characteristics of "pseudo-cultural identity" and the reproduction of stereotypes about ethnic groups. In addition, this study also thoroughly analyzed the factors that facilitate and hinder the development of ethnic identity among urban indigenous adolescents, as well as how they cope with ethnic identity crises.