User:Chandler07/Biracial and multiracial identity development

Biracial/Multiracial Identity Development Theories

Various theories have been introduced in an attempt to explain multiracial identity development. Since the 1920s up until contemporary times, different approaches frame multiracial identity cultivation and the result of those frameworks.

- Problem Approach: indicate negative outcomes of having multiracial identity. The "marginal man" has difficulties cultivating their racial categorization as one develops. This theory focuses on the deficits and problems that are a result of multiracial identities, concluding multiracial individuals are more often victims of rejection, isolation, stigmatization even from both identities they represent. As a result, multiracial individuals often deal with negative outcomes such as an inferiority complex, hypersensitivity, and moodiness due to their experiences with society.

- Equivalent Approach: more positive angle towards multiracial identity development, explaining that racial identity cultivation is equal between monoracial and multiracial individuals, but yields different outcomes. This theory soon proved inadequate for explaining mixed identity development. This theory did not allow the identification of multiple ethnic groups nor recognize their struggles of developing racial identities.

- Variant Approach: the most contemporary racial development theory, explains cultivation is a process that takes place over a series of stages according to age.

The commonalities of all these theories characterize mutli-racial identity development as marked struggle especially in early development. Most approaches reserve the ages between 3-10 years old to having confusion and outside confrontation that continue well even to adult years of a biracial individual. Some of these struggles include inconsistent identification within both private and public spaces, justifying identity choices, pressure to identify with one race, lack of role models, conflicting messages, and double rejection from both dominant and minority racial groups. These hardships are various and ultimately impact maturity and adjustment to society depending on the environment in which the child is raised and the interactions they had.