Image: A person stands on top of a ball while wearing a green blindfold and juggling four pins.
Taken from: https://cdn5.vectorstock.com/i/1000x1000/21/49/juggler-girl-cartoon-vector-10062149.jpg
Take a moment to ask yourself the question “Who am I?” What makes you you? Is it simply your race, your gender, your sexual orientation, or your disability? Chances are you’re juggling multiple at once! How tiring must that be, especially if you’re a young person exploring and balancing multiple minority identities in a world that seemingly does not value yours. How about we turn this into a world that does.
Healthy identity exploration is psychologically important, especially for adolescents from minority groups (Erikson, 1968; Umaña-Taylor et al., 2014). However, young people often encounter obstacles along their journey due to discrimination targeted at their stigmatized identity, which is especially detrimental for racial minority youth with disabilities (Holmes, 2012; Torres & Ong, 2010). Young people with disabilities are significantly more likely to experience peer victimization, especially among sexual minority males (McGee, 2014). The relationship between multiple minority identities and the barriers to healthy identity development is something that we cannot overlook. The question is: what can I do to alleviate these bruises?
When working with communities, it is important to recognize the diversity within the groups and look for opportunities to include people beyond binaries (McGee, 2014). For example, a social worker may investigate if the Gay Straight Alliance in this high school inclusive of LGBTQ youth with disabilities. Looking at the local disability community, one may wonder if it is inclusive of Asian Americans. Educators can be mindful when choosing to present a film in class, being aware of distorted, stereotypical representations evident in media and their impact on minority youth’s identity development (Besana, Katsiaficas, & Loyd, 2019). Examining and bridging these gaps in group settings encourages validation of multiple minority identities.
As rehabilitation practitioners, it can be helpful to lend young clients a helping hand in developing their complex identities. Once activity could involve having the client construct a self-narrative that is inclusive of their multiple identities. As the therapist, you would actively listen to this experience, identify themes (i.e., self-worth, affirmation of disability), and help your client develop positive outlooks based on their story (Dunn & Burcaw, 2013; Nettles & Balter, 2011). Together, it is possible to support healthy identity formation and to make the everlasting juggle of identities something that is a bit more manageable and fulfilling.
References:
1. Besana, T., Katsiaficas D., & Loyd, A. B. (2019). Asian American Media Representation: A Film Analysis and Implications for Identity Development. Research in Human Development, 16:3-4, 201-225, DOI: 10.1080/15427609.2020.1711680
2. Dunn, D. S., & Burcaw, S. (2013). Disability identity: Exploring narrative accounts of disability. Rehabilitation Psychology, 58(2), 148-157. doi:http://dx.doi.org.proxy.cc.uic.edu/10.1037/a0031691
3. Erikson, E. H. (1968). Identity: Youth and crisis. New York, NY: W. W. Norton.
4. Holmes, D. (2012). "Why can’t we just simply treat people’s problems, not their race (or physical disability, or sexual orientation)?!": A psychodynamic approach to the therapeutic relevance of multiple minority identities. In Multiple minority identities applications for practice, research, and training /. Springer Pub Co,. https://doi.org/info:doi/
5. McGee, M. G. (2014). Lost in the margins? intersections between disability and other nondominant statuses with regard to peer victimization. Journal of School Violence, 13(4), 396-421. doi:http://dx.doi.org.proxy.cc.uic.edu/10.1080/15388220.2014.894914
6. Nettles, R., & Balter, R. (2011). Multiple minority identities : Applications for practice, research, and training. ProQuest Ebook Central https://ebookcentral-proquest-com.proxy.cc.uic.edu
7. Torres, L. & Ong, A. D. (2010). A daily diary investigation of Latino ethnic identity, discrimination, and depression. Cultural Diversity & Ethnic Minority Psychology, 16, 561-568. doi:10.1037/a0020652
8. Umaña-Taylor, A. J., Quintana, S. M., Lee, R. M., Cross, W. E., Jr., Rivas-Drake, D., Schwatz, S. J. & Ethic and Racial Identity in the 21st Century Study Group. (2014). Ethnic and racial identity revisited: An integrated conceptualization. Child Development, 85, 21-39. doi:10.1111/cdev.12196
