Indicator: Youth Respecting Others

Outcome (s): Children and youth respected, safe and nurtured in their communities

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

The trend continues on this indicator, 86% of all respondents report that they believe 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.

For related interview questions, the trends are also similar year to year:

• 78% of all respondents said that people who know them would perceive them to
  respect the beliefs and values of people that are of a different sexual orientation than
  they are;
• 46% of the youth interviewed stated that people who know them would perceive them
  to know a lot about people of other races; and
• 76% 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.

A survey performed by the Search Institute in 2003 examined this issue from a different perspective and on a national level. The Search Institute a developmental asset of young people, asset 24, “Cultural Competence.” Cultural competence is defined by the Search Institute as having knowledge of and comfort with people of different cultural, racial and ethnic backgrounds. Forty-three percent of the 6th to 12th grade respondents experience this asset.

Data Source and Context

This Maine Marks indicator is adapted from the work of the Search Institute (www.search-institute.org) and their research into developmental assets of young people. The developmental assets framework is popular with many who work in the field of youth development. The data source for this indicator is a statewide, random digit dial telephone survey of Maine youth in grades 9–12 conducted by Critical Insights, a strategic marketing research firm in Portland, Maine. A total of 402 youth participated in the interviews for this 2005 report; interviews were completed by January 2006. The youth were asked the following question: “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, and (d) Enjoying being with people who are of a different race than I am”. Due to funding limitations, surveys were not conducted in 2003.

NOTE: For all years, only the data in the “all” column is statistically representative of youth in this age group statewide; the gender and grade level breakdowns are provided for descriptive purposes only and are not representative of all Maine youth in this age group.

National data comes from the Search Institute Profiles of Student Life: Attitudes and Behaviors Survey. This 2003 survey reached approximately 150,000 6th to 12th grade youth in 202 communities across the United States. Complete results and explanation can be found at
http://www.search-institute.org/research/assets/assetfreqs.html.