Generational change and how we conceptualize and measure multiracial people and "mixture". Issue 13 (21st October 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Song, Miri
• Is Part Of: Ethnic and racial studies. Volume 40:Issue 13(2017)
• Page Start: 2333
• Page End: 2339
• Publication Date: 2017-10-21
• Subjects: Generational change -- multiracial -- racial identification -- "mixture" -- census categories -- Britain; Race -- Periodicals; Race relations -- Periodicals; Ethnic groups -- Periodicals; 305.805
• DOI: 10.1080/01419870.2017.1344273
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0141-9870

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Until relatively recently, in countries such as the U.S.A. and U.K., individuals could only opt for "single race" categories with which they identified. However, in the 2000 decennial census, respondents in the U.S. were able to choose more than one racial category, while in 2001, a "Mixed" box (with further subcategories) was provided in the England and Wales census for the first time. But the very success of this racial project in these countries has spawned a number of questions for policy-makers and academics who theorize, enumerate and study the experiences of multiracial people. With demographic changes such as generational change, who counts as multiracial or mixed race? This question has yet to receive significant attention. Although mixing is becoming more commonplace, the question of who counts as multiracial is far from straightforward, especially as we look down the generational pipeline.