Ethnic Racial Identity Development in a Dual Immersion School: A Narrative Analysis

This study explores the ethnic-racial identity (ERI) development of early adolescent Latinas in a Spanish-English dual immersion school setting. Employing a critical ethnographic approach grounded in Chicana feminist epistemology, this research utilizes Umaña-Taylor and Fine’s (2004) Model of Ethnic Identity Development among Adolescents as a theoretical framework. Data was collected through classroom observations, interviews and survey data. The study focused on four main participants: Xochitl, Alexis, Onyx, and Flora, each representing different ERI typologies. Findings reveal the complex interplay between ERI processes and content, highlighting how the dual immersion environment facilitates identity-relevant experiences and peer ethnic-racial socialization. This study contributes to the evolving conceptualization of ERI development, emphasizing the importance of qualitative, narrative-based approaches in understanding the experiences of Latina early adolescents in majority-minority educational settings.