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First published April 2006

Identity and Adaptation Among Minority Indo-Guyanese: Influence of Generational Status, Gender, Reference Group and Situation

Richard Clément, Sonia S. Singh, and Sophie GaudetView all authors and affiliations
Volume 9, Issue 2
https://doi.org/10.1177/1368430206062082

Abstract

The impact of ethnic reference group, situational characteristics, generational status, and gender on ethnic identification in relation to adaptation was studied in Indo-Guyanese immigrants living in Ottawa, Canada. Ninety-eight first-(n= 48) and second-generation (n= 50) participants completed a questionnaire in reference to their East-Indian ancestral group, their ingroup and the national Canadian group. Results show that identification was the product of a complex interaction among reference group, situation, generation and gender. The pattern of adaptation to each reference group was influenced by generational status, and greater identification with the Canadian group relative to the Guyanese group was related to positive relations with the Canadian group. The results are discussed within the context of current theories of acculturation and intergroup relations.

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1. These labels were chosen after confirming with Guyanese informants that they were the ones actually used to refer to the specific groups of interest here. The term ‘Canadian’, even though potentially applicable to all, was used in the present context to refer specifically to individuals from the majority group.

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Published In

Volume 9, Issue 2
Pages: 289 - 304
Article first published: April 2006
Issue published: April 2006

Keywords

  1. acculturation
  2. adaptation
  3. gender
  4. generation
  5. identity
  6. minority group

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Sophie Gaudet
University of Ottawa
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