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, 2001 and 2002 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 all three years; beliefs varied little among freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors.

In related interview questions in 2002:

• 71% 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;

• 43% of the youth interviewed stated that people who know them would perceive them to know a lot about people of other races; and

• 74% of the interviewees 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 (see national Search Institute data in graph below right). 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

he 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 in grades 9 - 12 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, and 400 in November 2002. 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.