South African-ness Among Adolescents: The Emergence of a Collective Identity Within the Birth to Twenty Cohort Study

The authors assessed the emergence of a South African identity among Black, Colored (mixed ancestral origin), White (predominantly English speaking), and Indian adolescents participating in a birth cohort study called “Birth to Twenty” in Johannesburg, South Africa. They examined young people's...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Journal of early adolescence 2008-02, Vol.28 (1), p.51-69
Main Authors: Norris, Shane A., Roeser, Robert W., Richter, Linda M., Lewin, Nina, Ginsburg, Carren, Fleetwood, Stella A., Taole, Elizabeth, van der Wolf, Kees
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescents
Attitude Measures
Blacks
Cultural Influences
Ethnicity
Foreign Countries
Indians
Political Issues
Questionnaires
Racial Differences
Racial Identification
Racial Segregation
Self Concept
Social Change
Social Influences
South Africa
Teenagers
Whites
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Summary:The authors assessed the emergence of a South African identity among Black, Colored (mixed ancestral origin), White (predominantly English speaking), and Indian adolescents participating in a birth cohort study called “Birth to Twenty” in Johannesburg, South Africa. They examined young people's certainty of their self-categorization as South African; the centrality of their personal, racial, linguistic, and South African identities in their self-definition; and their perceptions of South African life and society today. These results reflect a historical opportunity for full citizenship and national enfranchisement that the end of apartheid heralded for Black and Colored individuals. Black and Colored youth tend to be more certain about their South African-ness, have a more collective identity, and have a more positive perception around South Africa. In contrast, White and Indian youth are less certain about their South African-ness, have a more individualistic identity, and have a less positive perception about South Africa today.
ISSN:0272-4316
1552-5449
DOI:10.1177/0272431607308674