Search

Increasingly people, including academics, tend to conceive of the world as based on essentialised ethnic or cultural categories. Thus, research on the second generation often takes for granted that this population has a bicultural identity. In this paper, I define the concept of identity as the subjectively constructed set of groups of belonging which the individual considers to be most important to and most characteristic of his/her Self. I then attempt to determine whether or not second-generation youth feel a strong attachment toward the ethnic origin of their immigrant parent(s). The paper relies on in-depth interviews conducted in Quebec and Montreal with 28 youth (18 to 25 years of age), who were born in Quebec and who have at least one immigrant parent. Respondents were mainly identified through birth registries, thus avoiding the use of self-identification for recruitment. Results show great variety in the identities chosen by second-generation youth. Relatively few identify with their immigrant parent(s)' ethnic origin. Those who do have diverse representations of these groups, which are nonetheless generally cultural or ethnocultural in content. This form of identification with cultural or ethnocultural groups is shown to be compatible with a civic allegiance to Canada or Quebec. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]