"I just can't be nothin": The role of resistance in the development of identity and purpose

Abstract

Identity is a core developmental task for adolescents as they seek to answer the questions "who am I?" and "who will I become?" (Erikson, 1968). In this way, identity is germane to purpose; it is a compass that guides and directs how individuals engage with the world. For individuals whose identities are marginalized by oppressive stereotypes, a healthy identity and positive sense of purpose requires resistance to society's negative expectations. This chapter draws from in-depth interview data with adolescent Black boys about their racial and gender identities to show three resistance strategies that young people employ to develop a positive sense of identity and purpose in a society defined by inequality and oppression. Acknowledging societal oppression and the role of resistance makes visible the potential of identity and purpose to be transformative-developmental resources that serve to transform and liberate the self and others.