ETHNIC CATEGORIZATION AMONG CHILDREN IN MULTIETHNIC SCHOOLS IN THE NETHERLANDS

In this study the use and importance of ethnic categories is investiga ted among children in multi-ethnic schools. It is argued that concentr ating on ethnic categories ignores the many alternative forms of socia l categorization that can be used. It also ignores the possibility tha t social categories are not used at all. In the present study children were not confronted with material that explicitly stressed ethnicity, nor were they forced to respond to ethnic categories, but the social categories spontaneously used in written essays were analysed. The res ults show that ethnic categories should not be taken for granted. Firs t, categorical constructs were not the only ones used, as many particu lar descriptions were given. Second, although most children did use et hnicity in describing differences between schoolmates, many other soci al categories were used and there were hardly any references to ethnic ity when the children described patterns of playing.