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    A Genetic Point of View: The Effects of Ancestry Testing on Racial and Ethnic Identities

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    Available after: 2020-08-31 (477.5Kb)
    Issue Date
    2019-08-31
    Author
    Kaiser, John W
    Publisher
    University of Kansas
    Format
    86 pages
    Type
    Thesis
    Degree Level
    M.A.
    Discipline
    Sociology
    Rights
    Copyright held by the author.
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    Abstract
    The purpose of this research is to investigate how genetic ancestry tests can affect personal identity. Forty individuals from the cities of Topeka, Kansas City, and Lawrence who identified as primarily Black, White, or Hispanic were interviewed before and after taking a commercially-available ancestry test. The findings of this study suggest that participants selectively chose certain results to incorporate into their identity rather than accepting the entire test. Group membership strongly indicated the reasons for why participants took the test and how they reacted to the results. White participants took these tests seeking new racial labels to differentiate themselves from simply being “White”. Black participants took these tests seeking to identify ancestral genetic narratives to better inform their Black identity. Hispanic individuals had more ambiguous reasons for taking the test, as some approached the test seeking new identities while others did so to acquire ancestral genetic narratives. White individuals incorporated certain test results into their identity to make them appear more diverse while Hispanics and Blacks subsumed certain results into their identity to better inform it.
    URI
    http://hdl.handle.net/1808/30209
    Collections
    • Sociology Dissertations and Theses [158]
    • Theses [3825]

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    Contact KU ScholarWorks
    785-864-8983
    KU Libraries
    1425 Jayhawk Blvd
    Lawrence, KS 66045
    785-864-8983

    KU Libraries
    1425 Jayhawk Blvd
    Lawrence, KS 66045
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    Contact KU ScholarWorks
    785-864-8983
    KU Libraries
    1425 Jayhawk Blvd
    Lawrence, KS 66045
    785-864-8983

    KU Libraries
    1425 Jayhawk Blvd
    Lawrence, KS 66045
    Image Credits
     

     

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    The University of Kansas prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, national origin, age, ancestry, disability, status as a veteran, sexual orientation, marital status, parental status, gender identity, gender expression and genetic information in the University’s programs and activities. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies: Director of the Office of Institutional Opportunity and Access, IOA@ku.edu, 1246 W. Campus Road, Room 153A, Lawrence, KS, 66045, (785)864-6414, 711 TTY.

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