Ethnic minority children's cultural practices and patterns of national and ethnic identification

To date, acculturation has only been studied extensively amongst adolescents and adults. The present research brings together two distinct research traditions, namely research into acculturation (Berry, 1997; Hutnik, 1991) and research into the development of ethnic attitudes in children (Aboud, 1988; Nesdale, 1999). A qualitative study was conducted with the aim of exploring the relationship between children’s ethnic identifications and acculturation styles. Thirty two children aged 7-11 years old from a variety of Asian ethnic minority backgrounds in London were interviewed using a semi-structured interview schedule regarding their ethnic identifications, family, school, friends, role models, religion, travel and experiences of prejudice, and their cultural tastes in music, food, TV, movies, clothing and sport. The interview transcripts were analysed using a grounded theory approach (Glaser & Strauss, 1967). The findings reveal the dynamic nature of children’s ethnic minority identity, its relationship to the dominant culture, and the multiple acculturation strategies which ethnic minority group children are able to use in different contexts.