Introduction
Background and History of the Project

For many years, the Sexuality Education Resource Centre (SERC) has been working on intergenerational communication and conflict specifically regarding sexuality for ethno-racial parents in Winnipeg for the last five years. Through this work SERC came to realize that there is a gap in knowledge, programming and services for Ethno-Racial Minority (ERM) youth regarding intergenerational communication breakdown and sexuality. While we had been exposed to adults and parents’ perspectives on this dilemma, we had had very little exposure to youth’s insights on the matter. In order to do this effectively, SERC engaged ERM youth in a community-based research (CBR) process. This new knowledge was intended to help SERC and other youth-serving organizations to develop meaningful programming for ERM youth regarding these issues.

Our goal was to develop and implement an ERM youth-led community-based research process. This goal was achieved through:

• The design and implementation of a community-based research training curricula for ethno-racial minority youth.
• The design and implementation of ERM youth-led community-based research in the area of intergenerational communication, family relationships and sexuality that enabled ERM youth to acquire transferable skills and develop expertise in the area of community-based research and community action.
• The collaboration of ERM youth with service providers and academics.
• The dissemination and creation of opportunities for public dialogue with and community action for relevant audiences such as other ERM youth, service providers, policy-makers and academics.

Research Problem

Dilemmas about sexuality are important during youth, an important period of identity formation, and are especially intricate for those from ethno-racial minorities. The intersection of ethnicity, race, gender and sexuality are important issues for ERM youth growing up in Canada. ERM youth have to deal with cultural influences both from their families and ethnic minority group and those of mainstream Canadian society. Trying to navigate many cultures can present specific challenges to both youth and their families. These challenges can lead to intergenerational communication breakdown and conflict.

Currently, there is limited research on ERM youth in Canada as it relates to intergenerational conflict, sexuality and other aspects of youth identity formation. The community-based research process is effective because it engages ERM youth in the research, program decision making and community action on intergenerational communication, family relationships and sexuality. Through this research project ERM youth provided pivotal leadership in generating knowledge about and finding solutions to these issues.

Research Questions

What are the experiences of ethno-racial minority (ERM) youth as related to sexuality in Winnipeg, the Canadian context and a new society?

More specifically:

o How does ethno-racial minority youth’s interaction between their family’s cultural background and understanding about sexuality affect their integration into Canadian society?

o What are the factors that facilitate or prevent communication about sexuality across generations for 1st and 2nd generation immigrant youth?