Ethnic Identity of Adolescent Nenets Girls in Contemporary Learning Environment

Abstract

The article is concerned with the study of ethnic identity of adolescent Nenets girls as representatives of the indigenous peoples inhabiting the Russian High North. The authors report the findings of empirical research conducted in reliance upon the Ethnic Identity Types approach developed by G.U. Soldatova and S.V. Ryzhova. The paper describes dynamics in the development of ethnonihilism, ethnic indifference, positive ethnic identity, ethnic egoism, ethno-isolationism, and ethnofanaticism in the Nenets girls during their adolescent years (aged 12 to 15). The article identifies the peculiarities of ethnic identity of the Nenets girls as compared to that of the similar age Russian girls residing in the Arkhangelsk Region of the Russian Federation. The authors define the specifics of the learning environment typical for the adolescent representatives of the High North indigenous peoples.