Summary
This paper critiques the treatment of race and ethnicity in developmental science research conducted in Germany and continental Europe, where these concepts are legislatively erased yet persist as social markers. The authors highlight the risk of essentialist categorisation, identify methodological problems specific to the 'race-mute' European context, and advocate for future research to examine constructions of Whiteness and ethnic majority power dynamics. The contribution draws on the authors' own research on ethnic-racial identity and socialisation to ground these arguments.
UK applicability
The UK context differs from continental Europe in its statutory recognition of race and ethnicity in equality law and data collection; however, the paper's critique of essentialist approaches and call for attention to White majority identity construction may apply to UK developmental research and policy.
Key measures
Not applicable — this is a methodological and conceptual paper rather than an empirical study reporting quantitative or qualitative metrics.
Outcomes reported
The paper does not report empirical outcomes or measurements from a primary study. Instead, it provides a conceptual and methodological critique of how race and ethnicity are researched with children and adolescents in the European context.
Topic tags
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