The Chicago School of Professional Psychology
2011-07-21
73 pages
Publication Number: AAT 3515236
ISBN: 9781267414342
Kelly Grace Arteaga
It has been widely supported through research that secure racial identity is positively correlated with overall psychological well-being and that parents are often considered the most important figures in the development and expression of racial identity. Previous research suggests that parents of multiracial individuals overwhelmingly neglect to address racial and ethnic issues both within and outside of the family home. This study reviewed current research and attempted to highlight the special role that parents play in multiracial identity development. Through phenomenological inquiry, the participants’ experiences of parenting a child that is racially different from themselves and their partners were explored. Further examined were the quality and quantity of discussions that occurred between parents and their children in which the focus was on their child’s racial identity. Overall, parents reported a high level of comfort and interest in discussing racial issues with their children, coupled with limited knowledge and understanding of multiracial identity and issues. Several other themes emerged including parents’ emphasis on their child’s physical appearance, the positive and negative aspects of integrating two or more cultures within the family, and curiosity about the racial and/or ethnic background of their child’s future romantic partner. Implications of the findings for future research and practice are discussed.
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