Indicator: 4 - Youth Respecting Others

Why This Is Important

Maine is often described as a homogeneous state, meaning that there are few apparent minority populations in Maine. Young people of various races, cultures and sexual orientations need to be able to live safely in our communities. Children are safe in Maine communities when their race, cultural lifestyle or sexual orientation is respected. Young people who grow up in families and communities that promote tolerance and respect will more likely feel safe, nurtured and respected.

Where We Stand

Over 80% of a sample of Maine youth interviewed in 2000 and 2001 believed that people who know them would perceive them as respecting the values and beliefs of people who are of a different race or culture than themselves. Females were more likely to believe this than males in both years; beliefs varied little among freshman, sophomores, juniors and seniors. In related interview questions:

• 73% of the respondents said that people who know them would perceive them to respect the beliefs and values of people who are of a different sexual orientation than they are;
  
• About two-fifths of the youth interviewed (41% in 2000 and 44% in 2001) stated that people who know them would perceive them to know a lot about people of other races; and
  
• About three quarters of the interviewees (76% in 2000, and 73% in 2001) said that people who know them would perceive them to enjoy being with people who are of a different race than themselves.

The level of tolerance reported by Maine youth appears to be higher than that shown by youth nationally. A 1999 publication from the Search Institute reported the following percentages of youth who respect diversity. This data is from various data sets and is not from a nationally representative sample, so it is not strictly comparable to the Maine youth data.

Data Sources and Context

The Maine Marks indicator was shaped by the work of the Search Institute and their research into developmental assets of young people. The developmental assets framework is popular with many working in the field of youth development. The data source for this indicator is a statewide telephone survey of Maine youth aged 13 to 19 done by Critical Insights, a strategic marketing research firm in Portland, Maine. A total of 403 telephone interviews with Maine youth were done in November 2000; 402 more were interviewed in November 2001. The youth were asked the following: "How would people who know you well rate you on the following: (a) Respecting the values and beliefs of people who are of a different race or culture than I am, (b) Respecting the beliefs and values of people who are of a different sexual orientation than I am, (c) Knowing a lot about people of other races, (d) Enjoying being with people who are of a different race than I am." Only the data in the "all" column is statistically representative of youth statewide; the gender and grade level breakdowns are only meant to be roughly descriptive of all young people in Maine.

The national comparative data is from A Fragile Foundation: The State of Developmental Assets Among American Youth, Search Institute (1999). The information in the national chart reflects youth's views on whether others rate them well on the following:

• Respecting the values and beliefs of people who are of a different race or culture than I am
  
• Knowing a lot of people of other races
  
• Enjoy being with people who are of other races