Abstract

ROTH, Eric  and  VILLEGAS, Carla. ETHNIC PREFERENCES: UNDERSTANDING THE DEVELOPMENT OF IDENTITY IN BOLIVIAN CHILDREN. Ajayu [online]. 2015, vol.13, n.1, pp.54-75. ISSN 2077-2161.

The purpose of the present study was to analyze the evolution of the ethnic preferences of preschool and school children in multicultural social contexts, and explore its characteristics. Our aim, in the first instance, was to verify if ethnic preferences of the sample followed the same pattern verified in studies carried out in other latitudes. Second, we explored variations of these preferences based on age, gender, ethnicity and the residence of the participants. The results showed clearly that the preferences of Bolivian children between the 3 and 9 years old followed the same patterns observed in other countries. The preferences before age 7 showed a lower ethnic identity development of Aimara children as well as non Aimara children. This lack of identity seems to reduce when children get older; the gender, ethnicity and residence variables did not affect the children’s preferences unless it is mediated by age. The results also suggested the importance of cognitive variables in the development of ethnic identity.

Keywords : ethnic preferences; ethnic identity; social identity; ethnicity.

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