Applying the Master Narrative Framework to Gender Identity Development in Emerging Adulthood

2016 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 93-105 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kate C. McLean ◽  
Hannah Shucard ◽  
Moin Syed
Keyword(s):  
Identity Development ◽  
Gender Identity ◽  
Emerging Adulthood ◽  
Master Narrative ◽  
Narrative Framework

scholarly journals Personal Identity Development in Cultural Context: The Socialization of Master Narratives about the Gendered Life Course

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kate C. McLean ◽  
Samantha Boggs ◽  
Alexandra Lowe ◽  
Chelsea Fordham ◽  
Kristin Gudbjorg Haraldsson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Identity Development ◽  
Gender Identity ◽  
Life Course ◽  
Gender Equality ◽  
Emerging Adults ◽  
Emerging Adult ◽  
Master Narrative ◽  
Master Narratives ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Personal Experiences

The present studies focused on the role and socialization of biographical master narratives – cultural narratives that prescribe the types and ordering of events that should occur in one’s personal life identity narrative – by focusing on adolescent and emerging adult gender identity development. We employed a combined explanatory and triangulation mixed methods design. Study 1a (n = 414) was a survey study examining the expected biographical master narrative events for men and women, and the content of master narrative deviation and conformity in an emerging adult sample. In Study 1b (n = 14) we interviewed participants from Study 1a about their conformity and deviation narratives, as well as their socialization experiences regarding gendered biographical master narratives. In Study 2 mothers and adolescents (n = 11 pairs), engaged in conversation about expected life course events, as well as a follow-up interview about their conversation. We first found that there are more gender differences in the personal experiences of conformity to and deviation from master narratives compared to the expectations of the life course (Study 1a). Second, deviating is related to more engagement in identity processes (Study 1a). Third, emerging adults report contradictions in retrospective reports of socialization messages regarding expectations (Study 1b), a finding confirmed in a discourse analysis of mothers and their adolescents (Study 2). Overall, across the studies, we see that 1) adolescents and emerging adults are engaged in a delicate balance of negotiating between various cultural and familial messages, as well as personal experiences, about gender identity particularly in regards to gender equality and, 2) there is a complex relation between socialization messages about gender equality that may make some biographical master narratives about the expected life course events for men and women more resistant to change.

scholarly journals Applying the Master Narrative Framework to Gender Identity in Emerging Adulthood

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kate C. McLean ◽  
Hannah Shucard ◽  
Moin Syed
Keyword(s):  
Identity Development ◽  
Gender Equality ◽  
Personal Identity ◽  
Personal Narratives ◽  
Master Narrative ◽  
Identity Exploration ◽  
Discourse Processes ◽  
Content Domain ◽  
Narrative Framework ◽  
Cultural Components

We applied a novel framework to identity development, capturing both content and process, and personal and cultural components of identity in the content domain of gender. We examined master (and alternative) narratives: ubiquitous, powerful cultural stories with which individuals negotiate in constructing personal identity. Study 1 was a quantitative investigation of personal narratives about gender (n = 245); Study 2 was a qualitative study of discourse processes concerning gender roles (n = 12). Employing three approaches to identity development (status, narrative, and discursive) in a mixed methods-design, we found that most individuals position themselves around a newer, alternative narrative about gender equality. However, in social interactions this narrative got less airtime, in favor of narratives representing either traditional views, or gender equality. Further, those who were exploring their identities were more likely to employ the less traditional narrative, suggesting a link between changing master narratives and personal identity exploration.

scholarly journals Transnormativity and Transgender Identity Development: A Master Narrative Approach

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nova J. Bradford ◽  
Moin Syed
Keyword(s):  
Identity Development ◽  
Social Dynamics ◽  
The United States ◽  
Master Narrative ◽  
Transgender Identity ◽  
Trans People ◽  
Unique Identity ◽  
Qualitative Focus Groups ◽  
Narrative Framework

Despite rapidly shifting social dynamics and the recent increase in scholarship on transgender identity development, existing research on transgender identity has been theoretically isolated from the broader study of identity. This study involved a series of 4 qualitative focus groups (n = 15 participants), conducted in the United States, to identify master and alternative narratives guiding transgender identity development and explore the mechanisms by which transgender individuals navigate and negotiate with these narrative constraints. Results suggest that (a) transnormativity is best conceptualized as a hegemonic alternative narrative that resists the master narrative of cisnormativity, which asserts that cisgender identities are “normal” or “standard”; (b) the components of transnormativity go beyond those which have been previously described in the literature; (c) individuals negotiate with transnormativity through both resisting transnormativity and conceding to transnormativity; and (d) border wars within the trans community form on the basis of these opposing and contradictory processes of resisting and conceding. Results demonstrate the applicability of the Master Narrative framework for studying transgender identity development and the important role of master and alternative narratives of in shaping the lives and experiences of trans people. Psychotherapists can use these findings to engage clients in re-authoring conversations to affirm the legitimacy of clients’ unique identity experiences.

Negotiating Emerging Adulthood With Master and Counter Narratives: Alcohol-Related Identity Trajectories Among Emerging Adults in Performance-Oriented Neoliberal Society

2021 ◽  
pp. 074355842110529
Author(s):  
Jukka Törrönen ◽  
Eva Samuelsson ◽  
Filip Roumeliotis ◽  
Josefin Månsson
Keyword(s):  
Identity Development ◽  
Emerging Adults ◽  
Heavy Drinking ◽  
Sociodemographic Factors ◽  
Master Narrative ◽  
Governmental Organizations ◽  
Non Governmental Organizations ◽  
Positioning Analysis ◽  
Narrative Framework ◽  
Changes Over Time

This study analyzes how emerging adults negotiate their relation to alcohol in the context of declining youth drinking and how this relationship changes over time. The sample consists of longitudinal qualitative interview data ( N = 28) with 9 boys and 19 girls aged 15 to 21. The participants were recruited through schools, social media and non-governmental organizations from mainly the Stockholm region and smaller towns in central Sweden to reach a heterogeneous sample in terms of sociodemographic factors and drinking practices. We interviewed the participants in-depth three times between 2017 and 2019. Thematic coding of the whole data with NVivo helped us select four cases for more detailed analysis, as they represented the typical trajectories and showed the variation in the material. We used the master narrative framework and Bamberg’s narrative positioning analysis to examine the data. The analysis demonstrates what kinds of narrative alignments in identity development encourage heavy drinking, moderate alcohol consumption, and fuel abstinence. The results suggest that the decline in youth drinking is produced by a co-effect of multiple master narratives that intersect and guide the identity development away from heavy drinking.

scholarly journals Personal identity development in cultural context: The socialization of master narratives about the gendered life course

2019 ◽  
Vol 44 (2) ◽  
pp. 116-126
Author(s):  
Kate C. McLean ◽  
Samantha Boggs ◽  
Kristin Haraldsson ◽  
Alexandra Lowe ◽  
Chelsea Fordham ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Identity Development ◽  
Gender Identity ◽  
Life Course ◽  
Gender Equality ◽  
Emerging Adults ◽  
Emerging Adult ◽  
Master Narrative ◽  
Master Narratives ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Personal Experiences

The present studies focused on the role and socialization of biographical master narratives – cultural narratives that prescribe the types and ordering of events that should occur in one’s personal life identity narrative – by focusing on adolescent and emerging adult gender identity development. We employed a combined explanatory and triangulation mixed methods design. Study 1a ( n = 414) was a survey study examining the expected biographical master narrative events for men and women, and the content of master narrative deviation and conformity in an emerging adult sample. In Study 1b ( n = 14) we interviewed participants from Study 1a about their conformity and deviation narratives, as well as their socialization experiences regarding gendered biographical master narratives. In Study 2 mothers and adolescents ( n = 11 pairs), engaged in conversation about expected life course events, as well as a follow-up interview about their conversation. We first found that there are more gender differences in the personal experiences of conformity to and deviation from master narratives compared to the expectations of the life course (Study 1a). Second, deviating is related to more engagement in identity processes (Study 1a). Third, emerging adults report contradictions in retrospective reports of socialization messages regarding expectations (Study 1b), a finding confirmed in a discourse analysis of mothers and their adolescents (Study 2). Overall, across the studies, we see that (a) adolescents and emerging adults are engaged in a delicate balance of negotiating between various cultural and familial messages, as well as personal experiences, about gender identity particularly in regards to gender equality and, (b) there is a complex relation between socialization messages about gender equality that may make some biographical master narratives about the expected life course events for men and women more resistant to change.

Boyhood gender identity development: A statistical contrast of two family groups.

1987 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 544-557 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carl W. Roberts ◽  
Richard Green ◽  
Katherine Williams ◽  
Marilyn Goodman
Keyword(s):  
Identity Development ◽  
Gender Identity ◽  
Family Groups

Gender, Sexuality, and Psychological Theories of Youth Development

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cassandra R. Homick ◽  
Lisa F. Platt
Keyword(s):  
Identity Development ◽  
Gender Identity ◽  
Life Span ◽  
Sexual Identity ◽  
Sexual Minority ◽  
Erik Erikson ◽  
Transgender Identity ◽  
Stage Models ◽  
Minority Identity ◽  
And Gender

Gender and sexual identity play a significant role in the lives of developing youth. The developments of gender and sexual identities are shaped by a variety of factors including, but not limited to, biological, cognitive, and social elements. It is crucial to consider that gender and sexual minority individuals face additional complexities in the two processes of gender identity and sexual identity development. Cisgender identity development is most commonly understood with the help of early cognitive and social theories, although biological components play a part as well. Specifically, the theories of Lawrence Kohlberg, Sandra Bem, Alfred Bandura, and David Buss have made significant contributions to the understanding of cisgender identity development. Modern transgender identity development models are helpful in exploring transgender identity formation with the most popular being the Transgender Emergence Model founded by Arlene Lev. Similar to cisgender identity development, heterosexual identity development is typically understood with the help of early psychosocial theories, namely that of Erik Erikson. Sexual minority identity development is often comprehended using stage models and life-span models. Sexual minority stage models build off the work of Erik Erikson, with one of the most popular being the Cass Model of Gay and Lesbian Identity Development. Offering more flexibility than stage models and allowing for fluid sexual identity, life-span models, like the D’Augelli model, are often more popular choices for modern exploration of sexual minority identity development. As both sexual and gender identity spectrums are continuing to expand, there also comes a need for an exploration of the relationship between sexual and gender identity development, particularly among sexual minority populations.

Thinking about ethnicity and gender diversity in children and young people

2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 291-303 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nastasja M de Graaf ◽  
Ilham I Manjra ◽  
Anna Hames ◽  
Claudia Zitz
Keyword(s):  
Young People ◽  
Identity Development ◽  
Gender Identity ◽  
Gender Diversity ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Children And Young People ◽  
And Gender ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Ethnicity Data

Background: Little is known about how social and cultural variants interact with gender identity development. This article aims to identify the ethnicities of children and young people referred to the United Kingdom’s national Gender Identity Development Service (GIDS), and compare the ethnicity data with the UK child population and referrals to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS). Methods: GIDS referrals made between April 2012 and April 2015 for children and young people were retrieved. Ethnicity data were obtained by the ‘16 + 1’ ethnicity list. Chi-square and t-tests were performed on the demographics. Results: Less than 10% of the 995 referrals at GIDS were from Black and minority ethnic (BME) groups – an underrepresentation as compared with both the national population and CAMHS figures. No significant differences in ethnic representation were found between the demographic birth-assigned sexes, across age groups, or year of referral. Conclusions: Hypotheses proposed for this underrepresentation take into account both the potential barriers to accessing services and the possibility of cross-cultural variations in the conceptualisations of gender, gender roles and gender diversity. Ethnicity, culture and religion, and their overlapping relationship with gender need further exploration.

scholarly journals Master Narrative Identity Development in Cultural Context: The Role of Deviating from Master Narratives.

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kate C. McLean ◽  
Jennifer Lilgendahl ◽  
Chelsea Fordham ◽  
Elizabeth Alpert ◽  
Kathryn Szymanowski ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Identity Development ◽  
Cultural Context ◽  
Personality Development ◽  
Great Majority ◽  
Master Narrative ◽  
Master Narratives ◽  
Identity Processes ◽  
Shared Stories ◽  
Group Experiences ◽  
Relative Neglect

Objective: The great majority of research on identity and personality development has focused on individual processes of development, to the relative neglect of the cultural context of development. We employ a recently articulated framework for the examination of identity development in context, centered on the construct of master narratives, or culturally shared stories. Method: Across three studies we asked emerging and mid-life adults (n = 512) to narrate personal experiences of deviations from these master narratives. Results: Across three quantitative studies we show that 1) those who elaborated their deviation experiences were more likely to be in structurally marginalized positions in society (e.g., ethnic or sexual minorities); 2) those who elaborated an empowering alternative to the master narrative were more likely to be engaged in identity processes; and 3) master narratives maintain their rigidity by the frequency of their use. In qualitative analyses, we illustrate the rigidity of master narratives, as well as the degree to which they take shape in social and group experiences. Conclusions: These studies emphasize the importance of cultural context in considering personality and identity development.

scholarly journals Master Narratives, Gender Identity, Socialization Processes

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kate C. McLean ◽  
Chelsea Fordham ◽  
Samantha Boggs ◽  
Staci Byers ◽  
Kristin Gudbjorg Haraldsson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gender Identity ◽  
Life Course ◽  
Gender Equality ◽  
Emerging Adults ◽  
Emerging Adult ◽  
Master Narrative ◽  
Master Narratives ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Identity Processes ◽  
Personal Experiences

Gender Identity and Master NarrativesThe present studies focused on the role and socialization of biographical master narratives – cultural narratives that prescribe the types and ordering of events that should occur in one’s personal life identity narrative – by focusing on adolescent and emerging adult gender identity development. We employed a combined explanatory and triangulation mixed methods design. Study 1a (n = 414) was a survey study examining the expected biographical master narrative events for men and women, and the content of master narrative deviation and conformity in an emerging adult sample. In Study 1b (n = 14) we interviewed participants from Study 1a about their conformity and deviation narratives, as well as their socialization experiences regarding gendered biographical master narratives. In Study 2 mothers and adolescents (n = 11 pairs), engaged in conversation about expected life course events, as well as a follow-up interview about their conversation. We first found that there are more gender differences in the personal experiences of conformity to and deviation from master narratives compared to the expectations of the life course (Study 1a). Second, deviating is related to more engagement in identity processes (Study 1a). Third, emerging adults report contradictions in retrospective reports of socialization messages regarding expectations (Study 1b), a finding confirmed in a discourse analysis of mothers and their adolescents (Study 2). Overall, across the studies, we see that 1) adolescents and emerging adults are engaged in a delicate balance of negotiating between various cultural and familial messages, as well as personal experiences, about gender identity particularly in regards to gender equality and, 2) there is a complex relation between socialization messages about gender equality that may make some biographical master narratives about the expected life course events for men and women more resistant to change.

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