Narrative Analysis: Identity Foreclosed Women

Results and Discussion Narrative analysis revealed that among the nine African American women engineering students who participated in this study, six were identity achieved and three were identity foreclosed. These findings reinforce the assertion from Marcia and Friedman (1970) that although identity achieved women tend to pursue more difficult majors than women who are identity diffused; however, identity foreclosed women also pursue more difficult majors. According to Marcia and Friedman (1970) identity achieved and identity foreclosed women both tend to have high levels of self-esteem. The difference between them is that identity achieved women are less likely to have their self-esteem manipulated, while identity foreclosed women easily …show more content…
Prior to entering college and having difficulty with the computer science courses, Shanice explored a few options that would lead her to a career working with computers. During this initial period of exploration, Shanice was in identity moratorium as she was experiencing crisis and had yet to make a commitment. After Shanice declared computer science as her major, she was identity achieved because she experienced crisis and made a commitment to an occupational identity. However, when Shanice considered changing her major, she broke her commitment to the occupational identity of becoming a computer scientist. This led Shanice back to identity moratorium, as she once again had to explore different occupational alternatives. Individuals with the identity moratorium status need guidance and Shanice received that guidance from parents, a close friend, and the engineering technology advisor. Once she committed to engineering technology, Shanice re-attained the status of identity achieved. Shanice’s story is an example of what Marcia (1966) termed MAMA cycle. MAMA cycles happen when individuals go back and forth between identity moratorium and identity achievement in an attempt to make a commitment to an identity that fits with their own ideological beliefs (Marcia, 1966). Joyce also experienced a MAMA cycle; however, her MAMA cycle was brought on by circumstances beyond her …show more content…
I mean, there is art history, but I am a logical thinker and I thought majoring in art or art history didn’t make sense and would be a waste of my time. So I decided to major in architecture; however, the first school I got accepted to for architecture was too expensive and I only got a partial scholarship. So I decided to come here, but they don’t have an architecture program. At that point, I didn’t know what to major in and prior to freshman orientation, I had never thought about engineering. So I went and talked to the advisor and felt civil would be a good fit for