Eastern Kentucky University
Grade Level at Time of Presentation
Senior
Major
B.A. Broadcasting & Electronic Media, B.A. English, B.A. Spanish
KY House District #
89
KY Senate District #
34
Faculty Advisor/ Mentor
Dr. Abbey Poffenberger; Dr. José Juan Gómez-Becerra; Dr. Socorro Zaragoza
Department
Department of Language & Cultural Studies, Anthropology, and Sociology
Abstract
This research project aims to inform about the challenges that biracial/multiracial Latino/as face growing up in the United States. The U.S. has historically maintained a monoracial view of race, in contrast to Latin America, which embraces “mestizaje,” or “race-mixing,” and the existence of races of multiracial individuals. These differing views of race have presented unique challenges for Latino/as who identify as more than one race in the U.S., including experiences of monoracism/racial essentialization, assimilation, microaggressions, discrimination, and the chameleon effect. Many also go through unique biracial/multiracial identity development and may experience an identity crisis. This research project provides a brief overview of the multiracial population, specifically outlining the multiracial Latino/a population in the U.S. Furthermore, the presentation explains what it means to identify as a biracial/multiracial Latino/a, highlighting the complexity of Latino/a identity and its fluidity. This presentation also presents solutions for how biracial/multiracial Latino/as can overcome the challenges they face, including embracing their multiracial identity, educating others, and creating support networks. Ways for others to support biracial/multiracial Latino/as in their identity development are also outlined in this presentation, including normalizing the existence of biracial/multiracial Latino/as in the U.S. and becoming a mentor and advocate for these students. The results of this presentation suggest that because many biracial/multiracial Latino/as view their Latinidad as part of their racial identity, the true Latino/a multiracial population in the U.S. is underreported.
Included in
Bilingual, Multilingual, and Multicultural Education Commons, Gender, Race, Sexuality, and Ethnicity in Communication Commons, International and Intercultural Communication Commons
Exploring the Challenges of Biracial & Multiracial Latino/as in the U.S.
This research project aims to inform about the challenges that biracial/multiracial Latino/as face growing up in the United States. The U.S. has historically maintained a monoracial view of race, in contrast to Latin America, which embraces “mestizaje,” or “race-mixing,” and the existence of races of multiracial individuals. These differing views of race have presented unique challenges for Latino/as who identify as more than one race in the U.S., including experiences of monoracism/racial essentialization, assimilation, microaggressions, discrimination, and the chameleon effect. Many also go through unique biracial/multiracial identity development and may experience an identity crisis. This research project provides a brief overview of the multiracial population, specifically outlining the multiracial Latino/a population in the U.S. Furthermore, the presentation explains what it means to identify as a biracial/multiracial Latino/a, highlighting the complexity of Latino/a identity and its fluidity. This presentation also presents solutions for how biracial/multiracial Latino/as can overcome the challenges they face, including embracing their multiracial identity, educating others, and creating support networks. Ways for others to support biracial/multiracial Latino/as in their identity development are also outlined in this presentation, including normalizing the existence of biracial/multiracial Latino/as in the U.S. and becoming a mentor and advocate for these students. The results of this presentation suggest that because many biracial/multiracial Latino/as view their Latinidad as part of their racial identity, the true Latino/a multiracial population in the U.S. is underreported.