In almost every society, various social groups experience marginalization and stigmatization on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, immigration status, or (minority) culture. Education is generally offered as the primary pathway for minority youth to overcome their marginalization. However, whether or not minority youth will succeed in school is related, in part, to the identity dynamics they bring to the classroom. As a result, educators, social reformers, and policy experts consider it critical for one to grasp how identity development is experienced by minority youth. This entry looks at the development of social identity development (also referenced to as group identity or collective identity) for youth socially ascribed by race, ethnicity, and (minority) culture.

Upon reaching adolescence, all human beings possess a multidimensional personality and complex ...