Briefly explain the characteristics of each of the following stages of the generic identity development model created by Jackson and Hardiman (1994): no social consciousness, acceptance, resistance, redefinition, internalization.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

No social consciousness involves a lack of awareness of differences that exist between social classes. The result is acceptance of middle-class or higher-class privileges as normal and standard for everybody. At the acceptance stage, the dominant group’s views and values, with stereotyping effects, are accepted, consciously or unconsciously, by people in low social classes. There is the denial by the lower-class people that the dominant societal culture has oppressive effects on them. Resistance stage involves the beginning of questioning the dominant cultural values and viewpoints that are not consistent with previous beliefs. The middle- and higher-class people also begin to notice the existence of privileges for middle and higher classes that are not available to the low class and recognize the relationship between privilege and oppression. The redefinition stage allows the privileged to reexamine their identity and how privileges have impacted them. It is at this stage that middle- and higher-class people realize the responsibility for recognizing and eliminating classism. At the internalization stage, the middle- and higher-class person comes to some understanding of the role of social power and privilege in oppression of the lower class and becomes motivated to participate in advocacy for social justice for people in the lower social classes.