Exploring the Ethnic Identity of Youth from Ethnic Minority and Majority Groups in Viet Nam

Le To Do Quyen,Norzarina Mohd-Zaharim

doi:10.5539/ass.v11n1p74

Abstract

This paper aims to examine and compare the ethnic identity of youth from the ethnic minority and majoritygroups in Viet Nam. Students’ ethnic identity was assessed by applying Multigroup Ethnic Identity Measure(MEIM) (Phinney, 1992). The participants were conveniently selected from a total of 800 students in twocolleges and two high schools. The results indicated that for youth from ethnic minority groups, the level ofethnic identity search component (a developmental and cognitive component) was higher compared toaffirmation, belonging, and commitment component (an affective component). No significant difference wasfound between male and female students in these two components otherwise there was significant difference onthe ethnic identity search component between college and high school students. In contrast, the score of ethnicidentity search component of the majority group was lower compared to the score of affirmation, belonging, andcommitment component. Significant differences were found between genders for the affirmation, belonging, andcommitment component as well as between high school and college students for the ethnic identity searchcomponent. Overall, the scores of youth from ethnic minority and majority groups were high and similar, andthere was only one significant difference found in the ethnic identity search component between these twogroups.

Highlights

The results indicated that for youth from ethnic minority groups, the level of ethnic identity search component was higher compared to affirmation, belonging, and commitment component
Viet Nam is the homeland for 53 ethnic minority groups and one ethnic majority group, only randomly selected youth from some specific ethnic minority groups who were attending high school and college in Dak Lak - a large province located in the Central Highlands of Viet Nam - were recruited
The data indicates that there are significant differences found on three items “Active in ethnic organizations” (t(350) = -2.796, p < .05), “Think about group membership” ( t(333) = -2.056, p < .05), “Participate in cultural practices” (t(357) = -2.870, p < .005) between high school and college students while there are two significant differences between boys and girls found on items “Talked to others about the group” (t(275) = -2.539, p < .05) and “Participate in cultural practices” (t(254) = -2.058, p < .05)

Summary

Introduction

1.1 Ethnic IdentityEthnic identity can be defined as the sense of belonging to an ethnic group and it is the results of ethnic group membership in the part of thinking, perceptions, feeling, and behavior (Rotheram & Phinney, 1987, p.13). Phinney (2000), on other hand, considered ethnic identity as individuals’ central defining characteristic, for individuals who are memberships of minority groups Ethnic identity search (exploration) is the degree to which youth discover the sense of their attachment to ethnic groups, such as learning about their family heritage and cultural practices or participating in shared events with participants of the same ethnic group and in cultural traditions. Ethnic identity has always been considered as an important aspect of identity development and leading to many positive psychological outcomes in adolescence for ethnic minority youth (Phinney, 1989, 2006; Yip, Seaton, & Sellers, 2006). Previous studies have shown that higher levels of ethnic identity are associated with higher self-esteem in youth (AJ, 2004)

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