Considering Multiplicity in Racial Ethnic Socialization

An often-underacknowledged component of racial ethnic identity development concerns youth's multiple social identities, which affect how and when youth receive racial ethnic socialization (RES) from parents and caregivers. Here, we review how a child's or adolescent's gender, immigration status, skin tone, and socioeconomic status can influence the RES they receive. Additionally, we use the social psychology model of social complexity theory to demonstrate how these social identities may present themselves in distinct ways within a single individual (whether identities are intersected, compartmentalized, etc.) using a developmental lens. Understanding how a person's multiple social identities can hold differential salience allows us to more accurately measure RES by considering the factors that may influence its presentation and prevalence. Examples and implications for how multiple identities may converge and influence RES are discussed.