Multiracial Identity: Prescribed & Chosen

Adrienne Shavers

Abstract:

A Multiracial individual is a person has two or more ethnic backgrounds. A series of five

interviews with multiracial individuals have been conducted. The interviews were private and in

a location chosen by the participant. A list of questions was prepared and asked to each

participant however each interview ended up being completely different based on the way the

questions were answered. The data received has been analyzed based upon the identity patterns

how respondents saw themselves throughout this study. The research found that every

multiracial individual interviewed picked one monoracial group to identify with rather than

identifying all racial groups that contribute to their racial background. Proving Hypothesis one

true, multiracial individuals would rather identify as belonging to a monoracial group than

explaining their whole racial background. All respondents had to be asked of their full racial

background. In all but one case, the monoracial group that the respondents identified with is the

racial group that their physical characteristics represent. Also, in all but two cases the monoracial

group they identified with is the racial group others assume them to belong to. This research will

expand our knowledge about this population and offer first hand experiences of what life is like

for multiracial individuals.

Multiracial Identity: Prescribed and Chosen

The population of multiracial people is a generally ignored population. All though there

have been many people who fit under this broad term; Sociology research have avoided looking

into the multidimensional aspects of this group. Jackson & Et all conducted a study that focused

on this void in research for this population and evens goes as far to say that this population has

generally been ignored by researchers (Jackson, Et all, 2012). Their study points out how

problematic this void can be considering how long individuals who can be identified as

multiracial have been a significant part of our society. (Jackson, Et all, 2012). An explanation for

this lack of research done with population of multiracial people that has been given in many

studies is the fact that until the 2000’s multiracial individuals were forced to pick one race by

anything asking them to racial identify themselves. Even the government was guilty of forcing

people to choose one race or the other.

Literature Review:

This change in the 2000 for the multiracial population was a big deal. Most studies

focused on the aftermath of the government for allowing multiracial people to fully identify

themselves. Upon further research many studies focused on the change in identity for multiracial

individuals as “a small yet important change in race assessment” (Lou, Lalonde, & Wilson,

2011). They go as far as to say that before this change in identification, many people viewed

multiracial individuals as a part of a monoracial group because everything that asked them to

identify themselves racial never allowed them to fully identify themselves. This in return never

allowed multiracial identity to be taken into consideration. (Lou, Et all, 2011).

There are four specific ways that that multiracial individuals are being talked about in

literature. These are: the definition of multiracial identity in general, the one drop rule, the

discrimination that population of multiracial people face because of their forced absence in our

society, and the effects that society has on an individual who is multiracial has on individuals

because of both proscribed and chosen identity.

The term multiracial is defended as an individual who identifies as belonging too, two or

more races. This is a typical definition found in research however, it can also be limiting

(Jackson, & Et all, 2012). Shih and Sanchez focus on how complex and confusing all of the

implications associated with the term multiracial is (Shih, & Sanchez, 2009). While Miville and

Et all define multiracial as a “More inclusive tone regarding the racial heritage” (Miville, & Et

all, 2005). This means that multiracial is an inclusive term that focuses on the racial background

of the individual. Lastly, Townsend and Et all found that multiracial identity has been linked to

the idea of limiting choices and forced monoracial identity (Townsend, & Et all, 2009). The

focus on most studies is what is multiracial and how can we define it. These studies implied that

“limited choice is associated with lower self-esteem, reduced motivation and heightened anxiety,

as well as increased efforts to reassert one’s choice (Townsend, Et all, 2009). This study found

that when multiracial individuals were forced to choose one race they ended up feeling tension

and that constraint negatively influenced their self-perception (Townsend, & Et all, 2009).

One of the main aspects that is present in almost every piece of literature that involves

multiracial individuals is the notion of the one drop rule. This idea stems from our history. Back

during slavery, which stated that a person who had one drop of African American blood is

African American and must denounce any other race (Bratter, 2007). Most studies found that

with the one drop rule, these individuals received that the full status of African American even

though they were multiracial (Bratter, 2007). This means that even though these individuals were

racially speaking multiracial, they were receiving the full identity of a monoracial group.

Bratter’s study implicates that “Children with one black parent are more likely to be labeled, or

to label themselves with the minority race other than white and exhibit less variation in how they

manipulate their racial identity depending on their context” (Bratter, 2007). This idea of the

forced identity even with children is one that many studies focus on. It explains the relationship

between being multiracial with black and white children and the implications that has.

Automatically these children are born and put into a category that they themselves haven’t

chosen (Rockquemore, Et all, 2009). The impact of this forced identity can be catastrophic for

multiracial individuals. One study went as far as to say, “Despite the fact that mixed-race

individuals possessed both Black and white ancestry, there were doomed to a permanent state of

crisis in which their mental state was marked by turmoil that reflected a deeply racist and

eugenic epistemology” (Rockquemore, Et all, 2009). Other studies attempted to explain the

impact that this one drop rule has on Black and White multiracial individuals. They found that

these individuals are automatically put into a situation where they have to denounce a part of

who they are simply because the strict color line that we have in America. The one drop rule is

where multiracial identity for black and white individuals starts (Rockquemore, Et all, 2009). It’s

the beginning of what is soon to be discrimination for multiracial individuals in today’s society.

Other studies found that “there is clear evidence for the “one-drop rule” for black biracial, who

have received discrimination” it goes on to talk about how most of the discrimination described

is similar to the discrimination Blacks face (Hitlin, & Et all, 2006). With this type of thinking

any multiracial individuals who are black and white are the main focus in literature. However,

some studies found that multiracial individuals who are not black and white face similar forced

identity (Giamo, & Et all, 2012).

With this general thinking of choosing one identity until the early 2000’s, multiracial

identity has been over looked. Which has caused multiracial identity can be linked to the idea of

limiting choices and forced monoracial identity (Townsend, Et all, 2009). For example

Townsend, Markus, and Bergsieker looked at the how “limited choice is associated with lower

self-esteem, reduced motivation and heightened anxiety, as well as increased efforts to reassert

one’s choice. In completing their study they found that when multiracial individuals were forced

to choose one race they ended up feeling tension and that constraint negatively influenced their

self-perception (Townsend, Et all, 2009).

This discrimination that multiracial individuals can be seen past the color lines of black

and white. Most studies with multiracial individuals focused on this idea of the rejection-

identification model and how in order for this to happen the in-group rejects and there for

discriminates from the broader social context of power and status (Giamo, & Et all, 2012). With

this focus it can be found that multiracial individuals felt discriminated against by people of

mono-racial identity and related more with individuals who had varied racial identities (Giamo,

& Et all, 2012). Studies with this focus are important because they are looking at multiracial

individuals and focusing on the implications that multiracial identity can have and how it could

lead to discrimination. Some studies would go as far as to say that multiracial individuals feel

discrimination, “because multiracial individuals cannot be easily classified in either the

monoracial majority or monoracial minority groups, they face rejection from both majority

groups and minority groups in society” (Shih, & Et all 2007). This means that multiracial

individuals fell that they have been discriminated against in today’s society by both the minority

and majority monoracial groups.

Along with discrimination many multiracial individuals feel they face, comes the well-

being and the problems that come along with being discriminated against and misidentified.

Some studies found that “Multiracial people regard race as an aspect of the self, requiring

verification from other” (Remedios, & Chasteen, 2013). They explain that multiracial individuals

need accuracy based on their own self verification needs. Going along with that multiracial

individuals who do not receive this stable verification can often negatively impact the multiracial

individual (Remedios, & Chasteen, 2013). Other studies looked at the link between racial

identification and psychological well-being. They found that there is not a direct causation but

there still is a relationship between the way multiracial individuals get identified and their well-

being (Sanchez, Et all, 2009). This suggests that the impact of this discrepancy on how they see

themselves depends on the multiracial person (Sanchez, Et all, 2009). These studies focused on

the problems that discrimination and misidentification can have on multiracial focused on how

they deal with having conflicting racial identities (Cheng, & Lee, 2009). This way of thinking for

multiracial individuals brings in the idea of racial distance which is described as “whether

different racial identities are perceived as disparate” and racial conflict which is described as

“whether different racial identities are perceived as in conflict” (Cheng, & Lee, 2009). The

implications for these studies are that racial dissonance negatively impacted multiracial pride. It

was not a causation rather it implied that multiple spate racial identities contributed to less

positive feelings about the multiracial status (Cheng, & Lee, 2009).

On the opposite side, some studies focused on the identity development of multiracial

individuals found that there was a link from positive multiracial identity and good psychological

health (Renn, 2008). The implications of these studies are that communities play a huge role in

the lives of multiracial individuals (Gasser). They found that multiracial individuals seek

opportunities it has for their identity and other multiracial individuals for validation of their

identity (Gasser, 2008).

The holes in research about Multiracial individuals is present in the way that multiracial

is defined, how it’s talked about, and the lack of research done on this population. My research

will assist in making these gaps smaller by contribute to the literature of multiracial identity and

racial identity in general because it will allow the furtherance of our understanding of

multiracial. My research will expand our knowledge of how social context can impact a

multiracial person identity and offer specific examples of these implications. One clear

difference between my research and research done in the past is that it acknowledges multiracial

identity as a unique group and furthering our knowledge with this specific population.

Data & Methods:

Multiracial individuals are for the most part ignored by general research. For the purpose of this

study multiracial is anyone who identifies with two or more races. This is due in large part due to

the fact that they are often just lumped in with the monoracial population. This study if focused

on why and how multiracial individuals identify themselves the way that they do. It also looks at

their experiences with race in the media, work arena, and Loras College; has impacted their daily

lives. This study will assist in making these gaps smaller by contribute to the literature of

multiracial identity and racial identity in general because it will allow the furtherance of our

understanding of multiracial. This research is expanding our knowledge of how social context

can impact a multiracial person identity and offer specific examples of these implications. One

clear difference between this study and research done in the past is that it acknowledges

multiracial identity as a unique group and it puts all the focus on the actual racial identity of the

individual.

The working hypotheses for this study are one: Multiracial individuals will identify

themselves as a part of a mono-racial group. Two: The mono-racial group that the multiracial

individual identifies with will most closely physically resemble that race. Three: Multiracial

individuals will depict strong family and societal pressures to identify a certain way.

The variables in this study are race which is the independent variable in this study. This is

the actual racial background of the participant. Identity which is the dependent variable in this

study. This is how the participant chooses to identify themselves which is dependent on the

actual racial background of that participant.

The sampling frame in this study is Loras College students who are multiracial. Any

person without a multiracial background was left out of this study. Snowball sampling was used

in order to attract people to participate in this study. There were emails sent out and word of

mouth assisted in gathering the individuals for this study. The study was first come first serve

type the individuals who contacted back first were the ones used in this study. In order to collect

data looking into the multiracial population in Dubuque and more specifically Loras College, 5

interviews were conducted. Each interview was 45 minutes to an hour long and the participants

of this interview were asked a series of questions aimed at getting them to talk about their

multiracial identity.

Participants had a wide variety of racial backgrounds. They were African American,

Caucasian, Spanish, Mexican, Duthch Polish, Purto Rican, and Filipino. Participants in this study

discussed their year of college as such: two freshman, one sophomore, and two senior. These

participants also varied in gender: three were male and two were female. All of this information

is illustrated on table one found on page nine.

Participants were asked specific questions that gear towards how the participants are

identifying themselves and how they talk about their own personal journey to that identification.

In order to analyses this data extra attention was focused on how participants spoke about their

identity. For example how they initially identified themselves is one of the most important parts

of the interview. Then attention will be paid to how the participant full described their racial

background. The analysis for this study is focused on in general how the participant talked about

race but more specifically how they answered these questions: How do you identify yourself and

why? Have you ever felt pressure to identify yourself in a certain way? Are their situations where

you might identify yourself differently? How do others talk about your racial background?

For analyzing purposes the answers to these questions are the most important and are

where the most focus is needed. Each answer will be analyzed by how the participant answered

the questions and how they identified themselves. Also that identification will be compared to

their full racial background. Next, there will be attention given to how the respondent talks about

any pressures they felt. If they said yes to feeling pressure where did the pressure come from and

is it forceful? Lastly, attention is focused on how others talk about the participant’s race. How

they bring it up and that makes the participant feel?

Each one of the questions was designed as a way to get in-depth answers to how these

participants identify themselves and how that identity has affected them. All the questions are

trying to get back to the working hypothesis of do multiracial individuals identify themselves as

a part of a mono-racial group? Is the mono-racial group that the multiracial individual identifies

with will most closely physically resemble that race? Do multiracial individuals depict strong

family and societal pressures to identify a certain way?

Results:

H1: Identity as one race

Every respondent identified as belonging to one race and none of them mentioned their whole

background as they identified themselves. Each respondent needed to be asked in order to figure

there full racial background. This data is depicted in Table 1 below.

Respondent Gender

Year in College

Chosen Identity

Full Identity Assumed Identity

1 Male Freshman African American

African & White African American

2 Male Senior Mexican Spanish, Mexican, & Dutch

Mexican

3 Female Senior Hispanic Polish & Puerto Rican

White

4 Male Sophomore Filipino Filipino & African American

Black

5 Female Freshman White Mexican & White Mexican

Table 1

Respondents Race, Gender, Year in College, Chosen & Assumed Identity, and

Full Identity

This table depicts the most important information given during these interviews. Focus

needs to be paid to the participants chosen identity, their full identity, and the identity other

people prescribe to them. It also shows the gender and year in college of each participant.

Each respondent talked about their chosen identity as something that depicted who they

actually are. They were very logical in their reasoning and offered explanations that really

solidified why they chose that identity. Interviewee 5 is Hispanic and Caucasian however she

identifies with white. Her reasoning is that “it’s who she feels she is”. Interviewee 2 who is

Hispanic felt like his race is something that he was always told and so it was something that he

always just accepted. He stated “All my life I was told I was Mexican”. The language this

interviewee used suggested that he didn’t want to identify that way. Looking on his later answers

he talks about how he would actually like to identify as white.

There was a mixture of responses when the interviewees were asked if there were

situations that they identified differently. Respondents 1, 3, and 4 said no, they identify in the

same way all the time. However respondents 5 and 2 stated that they sometimes changed the way

they identify themselves. Interviewee 2 responded that he felt as if he was white and that

without the dark pigmentation of his skin he would full identify as white. Also, interviewee 5

actually identifies as white however when she is around her family she is more inclined to

identify as Mexican.

In relation to pressure to identify in a certain way respondents 1, 3, and 4 mentioned

having no pressure to identify in any certain way. Respondent 1 mentioned that he alters his

actions to mimic who he is talking to at the moment but doesn’t change how he identifies

himself.

However, there were mixed responses when looking at interviewee 2 and 5. Interviewee

2 talked about how there really wasn’t any pressure but if he was lighter he would identify as

white. Interviewee 5’s response was also interesting because she felt as if there was more of a

suggestion from her family to not forget about her Spanish identity. They want her to be proud of

being Mexican and embrace it more.

During these interviews there seemed to be clear overarching pressures and reasoning for

these individuals to identify the way that they did. These reasons were family, personal

experience, other people’s identification of them, and culture. Multiple aspects were mentioned

in each interview as the respondents discussed their identity.

H2: Reactions of others

The interviewees each had very different views on how other people bring up there race and how

they feel about people assuming their race. Interviewee 2 and 5 talked about how others don’t

really bring up their race; however, when they did jokes were being used in order to bring up the

topic. Interviewee 1 and 4 had slightly similar responses in that they both would get asked

questions about their racial heritage and family background. Interviewee 4 stated “Most people

are confused and I always seem to get the question of what are you?” However, Interviewee 3

talked about how people would make blanket statements based on their prescribed identity for

her. She stated that people assume she isn’t a minority and will make statements about minorities

to her. Interviewee 3 had a slightly different outlook on it as she discussed the irritation that

comes along with these types of situations.

Most interviewees stated that people make assumptions about their race and those

assumptions match what society would describe as stereotypical physical attributes for that race.

They talked about how their skin color is one of the main things people us to make these

assumptions. All interviews except for 5 mentioned that people make assumptions. Interviewee 5

stated that she felt that people really didn’t make assumptions about her race. This was very

interesting because for this question one would expect to find that all people interviewed would

have said yes to this question because of their minority status. Also, all interviewees talked about

how people assumptions don’t bother them except for interview 5 who stated that it really

bothers her when people make assumptions about her race.

When talking about their personal experiences with race the interviewee’s had varied

responses. Interviewees 1 and 2 talked about experiences where other people’s assumptions have

created particular situations for them. For example interviewee 2 mentioned that he was hired for

a job under the company’s false assumption that he could speak Spanish. Interviewee 3 talked

about the lack of multiracial individuals in the media and also the lack of Hispanics. She

mentioned that things like movies and TV shows font really cover race at all. They just allow

people to make up their own assumptions. Interviewee 4’s felt that as a society we have put far

too much focus on race and nationality. He talked about how people simply treat him the same in

all aspects of life and that people are accepting. Interviewee 5’s responded that people don’t

really recognize race and people are just more open to different things. However she then talked

about the increase of different races in the media and was talking about some of the negative

responses that people have made about commercials and TV shows that depicts non-white

characters and talked about how she doesn’t really understand all the hostility.

Conclusion:

The overall results in found are that hypotheses one is true, multiracial individuals would rather

identify as belonging to a monoracial group than explaining their whole racial background. All

respondents had to be asked of their full racial background. In all but one case, the monoracial

group that the respondents identified with is the racial group that their physical characteristics

represent. Also, in all but two cases the monoracial group they identified with is the racial group

others assume them to belong to.

The implications of these findings are that multiracial individuals may be pressured by

family, other people’s assumptions, personal experience, and culture; to identify in a certain way.

This is important because the multiracial population is underrepresented in today’s research. This

study allows for these individuals to have a voice and offers a unique perspective as they talked

about their prescribed identity, chosen identity, self-perception, and how social context is

incorporated.

This study follows the in the same direction as other studies that have looked at

individual responses to the things that they are feeling and what they have experienced

throughout their lives. Future researchers might want to expand the sample size and create a

different way to select participants so that their findings could be generalized. They may also

want to look into interviewing multiracial individuals from a broader

There are some limitations for this study and the analysis behind it. First, this study is

based on Qualitative data and that comes from people. People could lie or since it’s all from their

perspective they could stretch the truth. Also, the sessions were not recorded so there are only

notes taken and the researcher could have missed something during the interview. This study had

a very small sample of participants that all came from the same area.

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Appendix 1:

Interview Schedule

1) How long have you been at Loras?

2) What year are you?

3) Where are you from?

4) What does your family structure look like?

5) When you first meet people do they make assumptions about your ethnicity?

6) How do you know?

7) How do other people bring up your ethnicity?

8) How do you feel when people make assumptions? Does it vary based on the

circumstances?

9) Why do you identify the way you do?

10) Are there situations when you identify your situation differently than usual? Tell me

about them?

11) Have you ever felt pressure to identify one way or the other?

a. Tell me more?

12) What have your experiences about race, been at Loras?

a. Including student, faculty, classes, etc.

13) What are some experiences with race at work?

14) What are some experiences with race with the media?

15) How do you feel when others identify you incorrectly?