Coming of Age in a Multicultural World: Globalization and Adolescent Cultural Identity Formation

TLDR

The article investigates how globalization leads adolescents to develop multicultural identities, examining the role of first‑hand versus media‑based exposure, developmental pathways across cultures, and the gains and losses of such identities. The study draws on ethnographic and cross‑cultural evidence of adolescents’ exposure to diverse cultures and recommends employing multiple, perspective‑sensitive methods to research globalization’s impact on identity formation.

Abstract

Abstract The aim of this article is to explore implications of globalization for adolescent cultural identity formation. The thesis is that adolescents increasingly form multicultural identities because they grow up knowing diverse cultural beliefs and behaviors. First, ways that adolescents increasingly have exposure to different cultures are illustrated with ethnographic and cross-cultural work. Then, 3 emerging research issues are raised: (a) the extent to which it is important whether a multicultural identity is based on first-hand versus indirect (media-based) interactions with diverse peoples, (b) how cultural identity formation may take diverse developmental paths depending on the particular cultures involved, and (c) gains and losses that occur when persons form a multicultural identity rather than an identity based primarily on one cultural tradition. Finally, the article suggests using multiple methods that are sensitive to different perspectives in research on globalization and adolescent identity formation.