Family Ecologies of Ethnic Minority Children

Abstract

Using an ecological framework, this article explores the relation between ecologies of ethnic minority families, adaptive strategies, socialization goals, and developmental outcomes for ethnic minority children. The theo­ retical conceptions of the ecological orientation extend beyond the behavior of individuals to encompass functional systems both within and between settings, nested structures, and a complex interaction between the develop­ ing person and the environment (Bronfenbrenner, 1979). In short, an eco­ logical perspective considers how the individual develops in interaction with the immediate social environment and how aspects of the larger social context affect what goes on in the individuals&s; immediate settings (Garbarino, 1982). Ethnic minority families in America have faced similar eco­ logical challenges from larger social systems and have developed similar adaptive strategies.