scholarly journals Ethnic Identity, Discrimination and the Shaping of Remittance Culture in Ghana

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 295-314
Author(s):  
Joseph Kweku Assan

This article examines birth-based structures and endogenous practices in the migration patterns of two ethnic groups in southern Ghana. The sampled ethnic groups for this study are the Akuapems from the Akan ethnic group located in the Akuapem North district and the Ada/Dangme’s from the Ga-Adangme ethnic group located in the Shai-Osudoku District and the Ningo-Prampram District (formally known as Dangme West District). The article discusses how ethnic identity influences remittance patterns and the utilization of sampled migrants’ home districts. Data from a questionnaire survey, interviews, and focus group meetings informed the study. The study results indicate a strong relationship between patterns, practices, and utilization of remittances and the respective norms and social values embedded within the migrants’ ethnic identity. The research also shows that migrants from ethnic groups with strong internal cohesion and less assimilation remit more than those from more ethnically heterogeneous groups. The study found that migrants from matrilineal ethnicity remit more than those of the patrilineal group. Ethnic values also shape the type of investments that internal migrants and their families may pursue. The research contributes to the debate on agency and endogenous development within birth-based structured societies. It also advances the discourse on birth-based identities, marginalization, and informal poverty reductions mechanisms and strategies.

Author(s):  
Carla Houkamau ◽  
Petar Milojev ◽  
Lara Greaves ◽  
Kiri Dell ◽  
Chris G Sibley ◽  
...  

AbstractLongitudinal studies into the relationship between affect (positive or negative feelings) towards one’s own ethnic group and wellbeing are rare, particularly for Indigenous peoples. In this paper, we test the longitudinal effects of in-group warmth (a measure of ethnic identity affect) and ethnic identity centrality on three wellbeing measures for New Zealand Māori: life satisfaction (LS), self-esteem (SE), and personal wellbeing (PW). Longitudinal panel data collected from Māori (N = 3803) aged 18 or over throughout seven annual assessments (2009–2015) in the New Zealand Attitudes and Values Study were analyzed using latent trajectory models with structured residuals to examine cross-lagged within-person effects. Higher in-group warmth towards Māori predicted increases in all three wellbeing measures, even more strongly than ethnic identity centrality. Bi-directionally, PW and SE predicted increased in-group warmth, and SE predicted ethnic identification. Further, in sample-level (between-person) trends, LS and PW rose, but ethnic identity centrality interestingly declined over time. This is the first large-scale longitudinal study showing a strong relationship between positive affect towards one’s Indigenous ethnic group and wellbeing. Efforts at cultural recovery and restoration have been a deliberate protective response to colonization, but among Māori, enculturation and access to traditional cultural knowledge varies widely. The data reported here underline the role of ethnic identity affect as an important dimension of wellbeing and call for continued research into the role of this dimension of ethnic identity for Indigenous peoples.


2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 166
Author(s):  
Lina Darwich ◽  
Robyn McClure ◽  
Shelley Hymel

<p>The study examined the relation between ethnic regard, a component of ethnic identity, and discrimination, and their contribution to school social adjustment among 340 Canadian youth in grades 8-9. Furthermore, the study examined how the connection between ethnic regard and school social adjustment varies as a function of ethnic group membership. Multiple regression analyses demonstrated that higher levels of ethnic regard were linked to higher levels of adjustment at school. However, further analyses showed that youth reporting high levels of ethnic regard and frequent discrimination may be more vulnerable in their schools. Additionally, youth of different ethnic groups had varied experiences. For youth of Vietnamese backgrounds, for example, a stronger sense of ethnic regard contributed to better social adjustment at school. These results, similar to previous studies, suggest that the research on the buffering effects of different components of ethnic identity remains equivocal.</p>


1992 ◽  
Vol 51 (1) ◽  
pp. 35-43 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan Keefe

This article integrates empirical findings from research in two cultural groups in the United States: Chicanos and Appalachians. Factor analysis of survey data concerning ethnicity gathered in the two groups produced similar factor patterns indicating three general dimensions of ethnicity: ethnic culture, ethnic group membership, and ethnic identity. Ethnic culture is the component of ethnicity that refers to the pattern of behaviors and beliefs that sets a group apart from others. Ethnic group membership refers to the network of people with whom an individual is in contact, and the ethnic affiliation of those people and the groups they form. Ethnic identity encompasses the perceptions of and personal affiliation with ethnic groups and cultures. Specifically, ethnic identity consists of: the perception of differences among ethnic groups; the feelings of attachment to and pride in one ethnic group and cultural heritage as opposed to others; and, at least where there are perceived physical differences between groups, the perception of prejudice and discrimination against one's own ethnic group. The dimension of ethnic identity is illustrated in depth with case study data collected during the Chicano research.


2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 635-660 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lu Tian ◽  
Shannon McClain ◽  
Marisa M Moore ◽  
Howard Lloyd

There is a dearth of research examining psychosocial factors that contribute to Asian international students’ acculturative stress. This study examines: (a) whether ethnic identity associates with acculturative stress, (b) whether other-group orientation mediates the relation between ethnic identity and acculturative stress, and (c) whether self-compassion moderates the relation between ethnic identity and acculturative stress. Results indicated that a stronger ethnic identity was associated with heightened acculturative stress. Self-compassion was significantly negatively associated with acculturative stress. Asian international students who strongly affiliated with their own ethnic group reported an increased openness to other ethnic groups and, in turn, reported reduced acculturative stress. Additional studies should examine other mediators that may explain the positive correlation between ethnic identity and acculturative stress.


Author(s):  
Герман Юрьевич Устьянцев

На основе полевых материалов автор исследует репрезентацию этнорегиональной идентичности горных марийцев в моделях освоения, трансляции и интерпретации фольклорной традиции, связанной с образом легендарного правителя Акпарса. Соотношение имени и функций сотенного князя рассмотрены в текстах несказочной прозы (легендах, преданиях), интервью, медийном и научном дискурсах, коммеморативных практиках современных горных марийцев. Автор выделяет две интерпретативные модели описания Акпарса в различных дискурсах: историко-реалистическую и мифологическую. Образ Акпарса выступает в качестве инструмента формирования этнорегиональной идентичности и одновременно ее символа. Бытование фольклорного персонажа демонстрирует связь между принадлежностью респондентов к отдельной этнической группе марийцев, административному региону их проживания и акцентуализацией «своего» специфического фольклора. Автор также рассматривает этносимволическую роль указанного персонажа в утверждении дихотомии «свой–чужой» в контексте аутентичности народной традиции: Акпарс выступает в качестве маркера горномарийской культуры как для самих горных марийцев, так и для соседних групп иноэтничного населения. On the basis of ethnographic data, the author examines the representation of the ethno-regional identity of the Hill Mari people in the development, translation and interpretation of the folklore tradition concerning the legendary ruler Akpars. The correlation of the ruler’s name and functions is analyzed in the texts of non-fairy prose (legends), interviews, media and scientific discourses, and commemoral practices of the modern Hill Mari people. The author identifies two interpretative models of describing Akpars in different discourses: the historical-realistic and the mythological ones. The image of Akpars acts as a tool for the formation of ethnic identity and at the same time as its symbol. The existence of the folk character demonstrates an association between respondents’ belonging to a particular ethnic group of Mari people, their administrative region, and the accentuation of their “specific” folklore. The author also considers the ethnosymbolic role of this image in the strengthening the “we–they” dichotomy in the context of the folk authenticity: the character Akpars acts as a marker of the Hill Mari culture both for the Hill Maris themselves and for neighboring ethnic groups.


Sibirica ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 44-59
Author(s):  
Ekaterina Chekhorduna ◽  
Nina Filippova ◽  
Diana Efimova

This article discusses the normative and legal foundations, laws, principles, approaches, means and methods of organizing the educational process and analyzing the content of the authors’ ethnopedagogical program—Olonkho pedagogy. The article relies on the aspiration of ethnic groups to preserve their own distinctiveness and maintain their ethnic and cultural identity despite the current circumstances of globalization. By basing its approach on the Sakha heroic epic tradition—the Olonkho—the article describes how this tradition can introduce children to ethnocultural traditions, customs, and ceremonial rituals. The article examines manifestations of civic and ethnic identity among students, as well as their values and attitudes toward their native language and the cultural and historical heritage of their ethnic group.


Inner Asia ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 117-139

AbstractBased on detailed ethnography of the Miao in Biasa village, Congjiang County of Guizhou Province, this article addresses the question of how a powerless ethnic group with a small population retains their ethnic identity and survives in the barren highland, surrounded by other ethnic groups who have larger populations and a more developed economy. It examines in detail the ways in which the Miao cultivate and maintain a defensive landscape in the mountain ridge through myths and rituals, and how the spirits, people and mountain are mutually embedded, forming an integral spiritual unity that resists outsiders and external interference.


Adam alemi ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 90 (4) ◽  
pp. 106-113
Author(s):  
D.S. Kaliyev ◽  
◽  
A. Ventsel ◽  

Ethnicity, nationality, and ethnic identity remain to be unresolved issues that need to be addressed. It is thus important to compare different approaches to understand the nature of ethnic phenomena and to identify appropriate techniques to understand the essence of «nation-building» concept. First, the article discusses the concepts of nation, ethnicity, changes in ethnic identity where the concepts of ethnos and nation are further explained. Second, the nature, dynamics and factors of the processes of ethnic identity are analyzed. Third, the author seeks answers to questions of why some ethnic identities change, while others remain unchanged. Fourth, ethnicity in conflict, the role of «belonging to a certain ethnic group» is considered. Finally, past and present debates of the primordialist and constructivist approaches to nation-building are described. The main methodology of the article is a comparative analysis of the theoretical literature of foreign and domestic research through the lenses of primordialism and constructivism. The paper argues that there is no reason for all ethnic groups to reach the level of a nation, that constructive theory has advantages at the highest level of integration between nations and ethnic groups in the 21st century, and that ethnic identity is adaptable and changeable over time. The results of this work contribute to further studies and scientific works related to the nation-building in Kazakhstan.


Author(s):  
Suwardi Lubis ◽  
Riza Buana

There are still elements of stereotypes and prejudices, which cause social distance and become obstacles to the harmonization of relations between indigenous Moslem and Chinese ethnic in Medan city. Stereotypes are characterized by a variety of labels from each ethnic group, namely: Like to group; strong family ties; rude and arrogant; aggressive and ignorant of customs; like to steal; cunning and breaking promises; poorly educated; tenacious and likes to work hard; ethnic prejudice is expressed in various forms, namely: anti-residence; avoidance; discrimination; Intercultural communication between them which ultimately did not take place effectively, where each ethnic group still retains its ethnic identity and does not want to understand the culture of other ethnic groups. The communication that is intertwined ultimately is only pseudo, rigid and shallow. Stereotypes and prejudices are the main obstacles that cause among other things the existence of social distance and the difficulty of assimilation that inhibits the integration of society in the city of Medan and the Indonesian nation as a whole.


2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (7) ◽  
Author(s):  
Amanah Upara

<p class="Default">This research was motivated by the widespread recruitment of regional government officials in North Maluku who were ethnocentric in the era of regional autonomy especially the regional government of Ternate City. So that gave birth to unrest in the middle of the community or cause social cohesion among ethnic groups with other ethnic groups in Ternate City.</p><p class="Default">This research uses the ethnocentrism theory of W.G. Summer in 1906 to describe the so-called gambudicial attitudes <em>between in-groupos </em>and <em>out-groupos</em>. The attitude, habits, and behavior of the "us" group are more suprior than the "you" group. Azra in 2001, tends to lead to a decline in national autonomy. Autonomy tends to encourage the strengthening of local sentiments and identities, which in the Indonesian context can be seen from the increasing sentiment of 'sons of the region' in filling positions at the local level. In fact, multi-ethnic nation states will be seriously threatened if provincialism or <em>local nationalism </em>amends with<em> ethnocentrism</em>, so that it becomes <em>ethno-nationalism</em>.</p><p class="Default">This study uses qualitative methods, while the data analysis technique uses descriptive analysis. This study uses two methods of data collection namely: <em>First,</em> in-depth interviews with informants who understand the process of recruiting public officials who are ethnocentric in nature. <em>Second, </em>through documents with data collection, by reading, and analyzing materials that are relevant to research problems, such as books, articles from the internet, texts, and archives related to research topics.</p><p class="Default">The results showed that: <em>First,</em> the recruitment of public officials in Ternate City was ethnocentric. <em>Secondly,</em> the officials recruited to become public officials in Ternate City mostly have Tidore ethnic identity backgrounds. Third, officials from the Tidore ethnic group mostly occupy strategic (wet) positions, while officials outside the Tidore ethnicity occupy dry positions. <em>Fourth,</em> officials outside of the Tidore ethnic group who obtained positions turned out that some wives or husbands had identities as ethnic Tidore.</p><p class="Default">The theoretical implication shows that the recruitment of public officials in the city of Ternate is ethnocentric, because the ruling ethnic groups perceive themselves to be more superior or superior to the non-powerful ethnic groups. In addition, the recruitment of officials who are ethnocentric in nature, so that the ethnic groups in power can give birth to a new leadership cadre so that they can maintain the power of their ethnic identity. However, it turned out that behind this ethnocentrism recruitment of officials, it caused tremendous social upheaval between one ethnic group and another. This has an impact on the system of government in Ternate which runs ineffective and ineffective.</p><p class="Default"><strong> </strong></p><p class="Default"><strong>Keywords: Ethnocentrism, Regional Autonomy</strong></p>


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