social constuctionist view
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'That's my Australian side'
Zevallos' analysis of thirteen heterosexual Australian women of South and Central American backgrounds aged 17-35 years, explores their ethnic and gender identities in Australia, using qualitative interviews as her sociological research method. Zevallos adopts a social constructionist perspective in her approach to ethnic identity, where 'a view of identity' changes over time, and the meaning and salience change along with the circumstances, opposed to an essentialist view where identity is 'fixed over time' (Holmes et al. 2003:163). Zevallos studies how these women view their identity and how they are perceived in relation to Australia's national identity, as well as how these justifications both enable and constrain their identities.
Several factors enable the construction of these women's ethnic identity in Australia. Choice and flexibility of ethnic identification enables the women of South and Central American backgrounds to choose whether they class themselves as: 'South American living in Australia," having an "Australian side' to their identity, being Australian or choosing to be classified as from their parents' country of origin (Zevallos 2003:82). This 'highlights the construction of ethnicity as a social process', as they have the opportunity to select or reject aspects of their 'Australian-ness' and ethnic identity (Zevallos 2003:93). In most cases studied, the women chose to accept Australian values of gender and sexual equality, as it is their 'Australian influence' and believe that 'Australia has maximised their life chances as women' which is a positive characteristic of their 'Australian side' of their ethnicity (Zevallos 2003:93).
Zevallos also includes evidence constraining these women's ethnic identities in Australia. They feel that Australian culture does not provide them with a sense of 'personal and family history' (Zevallos 2003:91)...