This study reports qualitative data collected between December 1997 and May 1998 regarding ethnic and gender identity among at-risk youth in Hawaii. The data were derived by conducting 13 focus group interview sessions with a diverse sample of adolescents (N = 58) at various youth centers. Findings suggest that identity development theories expand their frameworks beyond the notions of ethnicity and gender. Theoretical frameworks must also incorporate unique circumstances within differing communities, such as interethnic violence, sexual exploitation, immigration patterns, and class constraint.
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