Abstract
Identity is a core developmental task for adolescents as they seek to answer the questions "who am I?" and "who will I become?" (Erikson, 1968). In this way, identity is germane to purpose; it is a compass that guides and directs how individuals engage with the world. For individuals whose identities are marginalized by oppressive stereotypes, a healthy identity and positive sense of purpose requires resistance to society's negative expectations. This chapter draws from in-depth interview data with adolescent Black boys about their racial and gender identities to show three resistance strategies that young people employ to develop a positive sense of identity and purpose in a society defined by inequality and oppression. Acknowledging societal oppression and the role of resistance makes visible the potential of identity and purpose to be transformative-developmental resources that serve to transform and liberate the self and others.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | The Ecology of Purposeful Living Across the Lifespan |
| Subtitle of host publication | Developmental, Educational, and Social Perspectives |
| Publisher | Springer |
| Pages | 165-181 |
| Number of pages | 17 |
| ISBN (Electronic) | 9783030520786 |
| ISBN (Print) | 9783030520779 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Aug 19 2020 |
Keywords
- Black boys
- Identity development
- Purpose
- Racial identity
- Resistance
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Psychology(all)
- Social Sciences(all)
- Medicine(all)