Identity Construction and Genetic Determinism: How Young People of Color Resist Racist Master Narratives

The transition into adulthood is a time of deeply consequential identity construction, during which young people imagine and begin to pursue independent lives. I drew on identity theory, social identity theory, ideologies of racial essentialism and genetic determinism, and cultural conceptions of ancestry and identity, to explore how 20 young people of color (18 Latinx, 2 Black) age 18-24 have been constructing their identities and envisioning their future life trajectories. Using focused life history interviews, I elicited stories from participants about themselves, analyzed these using a narrative approach, and derived themes that captured participants’ experiences in their past, present, and imagined future that help them navigate through racist master narratives. Participants described how their lived experiences, especially participation in cultural practices and development of cultural knowledge from family and community members, had led to the construction of their ethnic and racial identities, and largely dismissed genetics as a factor in determining who they were or were capable of becoming. They also described how social structures, which limit their access to various forms of capital, have the potential to limit their life trajectories, which they resisted by constructing counter-narratives, positioning themselves as hard-working and persistent. These narratives were empowering them to set and pursue lofty goals for their future lives. Being members of supportive communities of family members, mentors, and other care-takers was also impactful on their imagined future life trajectories, and many participants embraced goals that focused on becoming care-takers and role-models as ways of reciprocally participating in their communities. To resist racial essentialism and genetic determinism, they strategically constructed stories of their future successes, though, in doing so, they positioned themselves as successful navigators of a racist system without engaging with the need for transforming oppressive structures. Those supporting young people of color as they transition into adulthood should be aware that having access to a wide variety of personal and social narratives is important for young people in order to create positive stories about who they are and are becoming. What is also needed is explicit engagement in critical analysis of master narratives prevalent in their lives.