Conference Strand
Identity Formation
Abstract
In the 2020 U.S. Census, 33.8 million individuals reported multiracial identities, which increased since 2010 from nine million (US Census, 2020). Despite the substantial growth in multiracial individuals, there remains a dearth of understanding regarding the unique challenges and determining factors shaping their identity. This session aims to equip counselors and counselor educators with evidence-based strategies to navigate and support the intricate identity development of multiracial clients and students.
Evidence
Chen K, Lay K, Wu Y, Yao G. (2007). Adolescent self-identity and mental health: The function of identity importance, identity firmness, and identity discrepancy.Chinese Journal of Psychology. 2007;49:53–72.Erikson EH. (1968). Identity, youth and crisis. New York, NY: W. W. Norton & Company, Inc Isabela G, Hiromitsu M & Hanneke S (2020) Beyond Screen Time: Identity Development in the Digital Age, Psychological Inquiry, 31:3, 195-223, DOI: 10.1080/1047840X.2020.1820214 Powell, C. (2018). Race and Rights in the Digital Age. AJIL Unbound, 112, 339-343. doi:10.1017/aju.2018.89 U.S.
Census Bureau (2021). 2020 Census Illuminates Racial and Ethnic Composition of the Country. Retrieved from https://www.census.gov/library/stories/2021/08/improved-race-ethnicity-measures-reveal-united-states-population-much-more-multiracial.html.
Format
Individual Presentations
Biographical Sketch
Diana McCullough is a retired Army veteran with over 10 years of service and an upcoming textbook author on systemic oppression in higher education and counseling. Her academic journey reflects my commitment to creating inclusive and equitable environments. Armed with a Bachelor's degree in Social Work from Fayetteville State University (FSU) from Fayetteville, North Carolina and a Master's in Rehabilitation Counseling, with a minor in Clinical Mental Health from Winston Salem State University (WSSU), Winston Salem, North Carolina. Currently in the third year of her doctoral program in Psychology seeking to explore forced-choice identity. Her diverse educational background has fueled her interests in various areas, particularly research and the exploration of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) perspectives. Her professional and lived experiences have shaped her dedication to dismantling systemic oppression within higher educational institutions and counseling settings. As she embarks on this doctoral journey, she is excited to contribute to the advancement of knowledge in these critical areas and inspire positive transformations in the field.
Location
Room 147
Start Date
3-8-2024 10:05 AM
Recommended Citation
McCullough, Diana, "Navigating Multiracial Identity Development in the Digital Ages: An Intersectional Exploration" (2024). National Cross-Cultural Counseling and Education Conference for Research, Action, and Change. 19.
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/ccec/2024/2024/19
Included in
Child Psychology Commons, Developmental Psychology Commons, Multicultural Psychology Commons, School Psychology Commons, Social Justice Commons, Social Work Commons
Navigating Multiracial Identity Development in the Digital Ages: An Intersectional Exploration
Room 147
In the 2020 U.S. Census, 33.8 million individuals reported multiracial identities, which increased since 2010 from nine million (US Census, 2020). Despite the substantial growth in multiracial individuals, there remains a dearth of understanding regarding the unique challenges and determining factors shaping their identity. This session aims to equip counselors and counselor educators with evidence-based strategies to navigate and support the intricate identity development of multiracial clients and students.
Description
Social networks have become the space for identity construction in adolescents and young people. Social media platforms like Instagram, Snapchat, and Facebook have introduced new ways for the younger generations to engage in self-expression: posting selfies on Instagram, updating statuses on Facebook, and sharing mashups of daily activities on Snapchat. With the increase in the multiracial population over the years with a 276% rise since 2010, identity is not just the sum of all the races on someone’s family tree, it has become more complicated than that (US Census, 2020). Race and ethnicity is a deeply entrenched social construct—both online and offline (Powell, 2018). Isabela (2020) stated that around the age of 14, individuals begin challenging the beliefs of their social networks. According to psychologist Erikson (1968), the most important development task for adolescents are to solve the identity versus role confusion crisis, construct their own sense of identity, and find the social environment where they belong (Chen et al., 2007). For adolescents and emerging adults, the tasks of identity development now takes place in a world of ubiquitous, daily social media use. It is during this important timeframe in which adolescents conform to social expectations and have the need to be socially accepted (Isabela, 2020). It is increasingly challenging, if not entirely impossible, to disentangle ‘digital life’ from the contexts in which today’s adolescents and emerging adults navigate key developmental tasks. Counselors play a pivotal role in supporting identity development, this session proposes practical, evidence-based strategies to address the unique challenges faced by multiracial individuals in the digital age. By bridging the gap between digital and offline identity experiences, counselors and counselor educators can foster a more nuanced understanding of intersectionality and contribute to the holistic development of the individuals they serve.