CHAPTER 15: Individuals and Families of Multiracial Descent

1. CHAPTER 15:Individuals and Families of Multiracial Descent Developing Multicultural Counseling Competence: A Systems Approach Second Edition Danica G. Hays and Bradley T. Erford

2. Terminology • Interracial couple-includes partners, married or not, who each are of different socially constructed racial backgrounds • Multiracial families-comprised of interracial couples and their multiracial offspring; single parents with biological offspring who are multiracial; and single parents with multiracial offspring as a result of a surrogate pregnancy process or artificial insemination process • Multiracial individuals- are individuals whose biological parents or whose lineage are of two or more different socially constructed racial backgrounds • Multiple heritage- synonymous with interracial and multiracial; speaks to the multiple dimensions of identity, culture, and backgrounds of members of this population that include identities other than race

3. Historical Perspectives • Interracial couples and multiracial individuals here since the first European settlers arrived on American soil in 1607 • Anti-miscegenation laws beginning in 1664 • Loving v. Virginia (1967) • Multiracial organizations: Interracial/Inter-cultural Pride (I-Pride), Association of MultiEthnic Americans (AMEA) and Project RACE (Reclassify All Children Equally) • “Check one or more” format beginning with the 2000 Census • Nearly seven million U.S. individuals, or 2.4% of the country’s 281.4 million individuals, described themselves as being of multiple heritages • 2010 U.S. Census revealed a 32% increase

4. Interracial Marriages Today • 1 in 7 or 14.6 % of new marriages in the United States are multiple heritage marriages • Intermarriage rates have tended to be highest among Asians, Latinos, and Native Americans. • Most interracial marriages are between persons of color and White European Americans. • African American women least likely of all women to out-marry, and both White and African American men exhibiting higher rates of out-marriage than other men • Intermarriage rates tend to be highest in the West and lowest in the Midwest region of the United States

5. Multiracial Identity Development • Counselors should have knowledge of identity development models of multiple heritage individuals • Problems with early models • Root’s (2002) Ecological Framework for Understanding Multiracial Identity Development • Examines how family and personal characteristics; social, psychological, and cognitive development factors; environmental factors; and visible and invisible identity factors influence and shape multiracial identity

6. Contemporary Social Perceptions and Discrimination Experiences • Intermarriage among Black and White is only a small segment of the population • Development of a positive racial and cultural identity and self-concept is the salient issue of multiple heritage individuals, affected by these factors: • Individuals’ support systems • How concerns are managed at each age and phase of life • The strengths, assets, and inner resources that come with developmental growth and maturity

7. Contemporary Social Perceptions and Discrimination Experiences Cont. • According to Root (1994), identity issues and concerns that arise for multiracial individuals across the lifespan emerge from six interrelated themes: • Uniqueness • Acceptance and belonging • Physical appearance • Sexuality • Self-esteem • Identity

8. Contemporary Social Perceptions and Discrimination Experiences Cont. • Approval of interracial dating rose from 48% in 1987 to 83% in 2009 • Acceptance and approval rates may vary for a number of reasons • Myths of interracial dating • Relationships of multiple heritage couples are similar to and no more problematic than same race couples • With different levels of assimilation and acculturation, concerns often arise around differences in partners’ cultural context and worldview experiences related to communication, language, religion, gender role expectations, parenting, traditions, and food

9. Contemporary Social Perceptions and Discrimination Experiences Cont. • The development of a healthy family structure and a positive family identity are major issues or concerns for multiple heritage couples as they begin to have children • Concerns about how their multiple heritage children will be regarded or treated because of their mixed racial backgrounds • Must make choices about where to live, work, and worship • Children become cognizant of color and other differences in the physical appearances of those they encounter by the age of three and attempt to understand where they “fit”

10. Contemporary Social Perceptions and Discrimination Experiences Cont. • Children in middle childhood begin to understand and use racial and ethnic classifications to describe themselves and others • In the search for identity, multiracial adolescents may face confusion and feel as if they do not fit anywhere • Major challenges • Multiple heritage college students encounter challenges navigating predominantly White college campuses while integrating their multiple heritages • Long-term challenges could include continued experiences of marginality, isolation and loneliness

11. Contemporary Social Perceptions and Discrimination Experiences Cont. • Potential identities can be influenced by the generation into which the individual is born, including: • Assignment by hypodescent/One-drop rule • Mono-racial fit self-assignment • New group/Blended • Biracial/multiracial • White with symbolic identity

12. Counseling Considerations • Engage in ongoing self-monitoring of assumptions, values, and biases held toward multiple heritage couples, families, and individuals • Be aware of possible tendencies to assume that all issues and concerns experienced by this population are related to their mixed heritages or to race • Acquire knowledge and understanding of the worldview experiences of their clients, in addition to the unique history of race mixing • Become knowledgeable of the worldview experiences of each partner, and then use this knowledge to interpret and facilitate the partners’ understanding of each other

13. Counseling Considerations Continued • Seek out members of the multiple heritage population advocating for themselves to expand own knowledge base • Familiarize self with advocacy skills and strategies that have been determined to be useful and valuable in working with this population • Use numerous tools for assessment, advocacy, affirmation, and empowerment of this community • Bill of Rights for People of Mixed Heritage • The Multiracial Oath of Social Responsibility • Interracial Couple Questionnaire

14. Counseling Considerations Continued • Assist a partner or couple in understanding and conceptualizing myths and stereotypes as more a function of issues within society • Help the partner or couple to explore and use their individual strengths and the strengths of the relationship to address and respond to objections and negative reactions • Consider using Ishiyama’s (2006) self-validation model • Assist couples in coming to terms with and resolving differences that may exist in how they each view and approach child-rearing

15. Counseling Considerations Continued • Examine how comments, questions, and concerns, particularly those expressed by children, are discussed and dealt with in the family • Teach families the strategies of “pushing back” and “pulling back” • Attend to whether children’s concerns are related to the child’s developmental age or stage; the child-rearing practices of the parents, and familial issues; or racial/ethnic issues and concerns • Encourage and assist children in learning about all aspects of their multiple heritages

16. Counseling Considerations Continued • Work with a number of people to gain understanding of the interactions and dynamics of the family • Incorporate effective strategies for counseling multiracial children including bibliotherapy, role-playing, journaling, creative writing, and various art media • With adolescents, examine potential conflicts in five major psychosocial areas: • Multiracial identity • Social marginality • Sexuality and choice of partners • Separation from parents • Educational and career goals

17. Counseling Considerations Continued • Assess adolescents’ level of support from immediate family, extended family and others • Validate adolescents’ feelings about their mixed-race status • Assist in understanding the relationship between problem behavior and challenges they may be experiencing regarding their multiple heritages • Assist adolescents in self-exploration to develop a positive self-image • Consider these interventions: focused discussions, bibliotherapy, homework assignments, role-playing, journaling, storytelling, peer counseling, peer support groups, and behavioral goal setting

18. Counseling Considerations Continued • Skills for counseling multiracial college students • Consider issues that arise for college students related to the campus environment, the student’s sense of fit and belonging in the campus environment, and issues related to their identity and self-concept • Reflect on these factors for college students with multiple heritages: • Positive relationships available to the student • Presenting problems • Opportunities to vent about feelings and concerns • Student’s level of self-esteem • The helping professional’s level of preparation and approach • Student’s level of access to family and level of family support

19. Counseling Considerations Continued • Establish support groups for multiple heritage students on campus • With adults, consider the three components of Logan, Freeman, and McRoy’s (1987) ecological approach • Genogram • Eco-map • Cultural continuum