Ethnic Identity

Identity means being the same as oneself as well as being different. Because of globalization, the study of ethnic identity has been focused in anthropology discourse. One important piece of individual’s identity is ethnic identity. Being difference from any other factors contributing to the self such as race or personality which are immutable, ethnic identity can be changed and modified not only by the agent himself but also by many external factors. This essay will firstly discuss about the notion of ethnic identity with its situational stance and why it is fundamental for the process of self-identification. The second part of this essay will focus on the problem of ethnic identification in the case of first and secondary generation of immigrants

Ethnicity is a product which is made not only of ethnic group when they shape and reshape their self-definition and culture but also of external social, economic and political processes and actors which shape and reshape ethnic categories and definitions. This view rejects the assumption which holds that ethnic identity is unstable over time and lifespan, but indicates that the characteristics of ethnic identity is situational and changeable and. For Eriksen, identities are ambiguous due to negotiable history and a negotiable cultural content. “Even when the biological history of a person is scientifically documented, it is open to varying interpretations.” By Barth, ethnic identity is the combination of the view one has for oneself and the views of others about one’s ethnic identity. He emphasized an active role to individuals’ and groups’ engagement in redefining their

It is modified not only by the member of the group of also by the outsiders and other social factors. Consequently, being difference from personal identity, ethnic identity is changeable due to self -identification of the agent and view of the others. Everyone needs to identify themselves to a certain ethnic identity because the process is a psychological attachment to a set of values and beliefs which constructs “the self”. Moreover, because of mechanism of classification which is human distinct characteristic, ethnic identity is fundamental for individual to have to sense of belonginess. It draws the invisible boundary between insiders and outsiders. Everyone is expected to have well – define ethnic identity. Thus, this is the problem of the first and second generation of immigration. Because they across the boundary of two culturally distinctive groups, their identification need to be adjust. Based on the social context of the host country and their own sentiments, they will assimilate, segregate or integrate. Following the choice, their identity will be changed, remained or ambiguous respectively. In term of ambiguous identity, the second generation which is categorized as “anomalies” is the main group in this discourse. Because of being socialized in two culturally distinctive group, they find difficult to be full member of any groups. The ambiguity of identity makes them face with negative attitudes of both communities.