Communication Studies, Department of

 

Department of Communication Studies: Faculty Publications

Accessibility Remediation

If you are unable to use this item in its current form due to accessibility barriers, you may request remediation through our remediation request form.

Document Type

Article

Date of this Version

2017

Citation

Published in Identity: An International Journal of Theory and Research 17:4 (2017), pp. 267–281. DOI: 10.1080/15283488.2017.1379907

Comments

Copyright © 2017 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. Used by permission.

Abstract

The purpose of this inquiry was to explore the lived experiences of multiethnic-racial individuals (i.e., individuals with parents from different ethnic-racial groups). In-depth interviews were conducted with 29 adults from the United States with mixed ethnic-racial backgrounds ranging in age from 18 to 52 (female n = 20, male n = 9). We identified a number of themes related to perceived benefits (e.g., pluralistic world views, stronger sense of self) and challenges (e.g., identity tensions, communal concerns) of having a mixed heritage. Findings are discussed in terms of four considerations for ethnic-racial identity of individuals with mixed ethnic-racial backgrounds: emphasizing constellations of experiences, life-span and developmental considerations of identity, (mixed) ethnic-racial identity as constituted in interactions, and the potential promise of pluralistic world views.

Share

COinS