Canadian Race Relations Foundation

The research examines issue of identity with second generation immigrant youth in Canada, and how cultural identity is an important issue for today’s youth. The methods use in processing the data is both quantitative and qualitative and allows the reader to understand the dynamics in which immigrant youth develop their own cultural identity. The research also looks at classification or characterization of cultural identity, and how being Canadian fits into their identity. Furthermore, the study examines the levels of stress or comfort when associating with a specific cultural identity.

Cultural contact as a factor that stands independently from ethnic identify is characterized by a split between the cluster of marginalization, diffusion, deculturation in contrast to integration. One might suggest that this identifies the extremes of cultural contact where marginalization and deculturation are acculturative attitudes that are held by people who have (or desire) contact with no cultures, whereas those who opt for integration have (or desire) contact with tow (or more) cultures. (p.29).