Deconstructing Discrimination Against Multiracial Individual

Deconstructing Discrimination Multiracial Individuals Discrimination

Deconstructing Discrimination: Multiracial Individuals’ Discrimination Experiences and Psychological Well-Being Given the importance of belonging to the human experience, it is not surprising that perceiving cues of social acceptance are associated with improved health, well-being, and engagement (Walton & Cohen, 2011). In contrast, social rejection is a generally painful phenomenon, even when the perpetrator is a member of a deplorable group such as the KKK (Gonsalkorale & Williams, 2007). As any person can attest—whether it is experienced on the job market or in a school cafeteria—the sting of rejection spares no one. However, specific forms of social rejection can be directed toward members of some groups more heavily, with pernicious consequences.

Individuals with mixed-race ancestry face higher rates of prejudice and discrimination than any other racial or ethnic group (Brackett et al., 2006), yet psychology has a limited understanding of their experiences. A growing body of research documents that Multiracial people may face rejection from many different sources. People of color (POC) may reject part-White Multiracial people because their White identity can lead to questions about allegiances to POC groups (Chen et al., 2018). White people may also reject Multiracial people for a number of reasons, including wanting to protect ingroup boundaries or existing status inequality between racial groups (Krosch & Amodio, 2014). Although it is clear that Multiracial people can experience high levels of rejection and discrimination, there is no existing theory of discrimination that adequately documents the nature and impact of these experiences.

The proposed research develops and tests a novel, theoretically-based framework of discrimination types and their influence on Multiracial individuals’ well-being (see Figure 1). Building on the limited body of research in Multiracial discrimination experiences, we propose four types of discrimination experienced by Multiracial people. Multiracial people can experience specific racial discrimination, directed toward a single racial group within their background, as well as anti-miscegenation discrimination, discrimination rooted in attitudes against interracial families and directed toward individuals’ mixed-race status. Identity- contingent discrimination describes instances in which discrimination arises from, or is directed toward, individuals’ identification (e.g., inconsistencies between one’s identity and perceivers’ beliefs about how they should identify).

Last, vicarious discrimination describes instances in which Multiracial people can be interpersonally accepted yet simultaneously witness discriminatory or prejudiced attitudes relevant to their racial identity or background. In addition to outlining forms of discrimination, the proposed study will investigate target characteristics (i.e., racial identification) related to the prevalence of these discrimination experiences. Follow-up studies will continue to develop this novel framework, examining additional characteristics such as perpetrator race. Methodology 200 Multiracial participants will be recruited through Qualtrics (see budget justification for details). Participants will not need to self-identify as Multiracial; people who indicate two or more racial backgrounds on a check all that apply question will be considered eligible.

Participants will complete a survey assessing well-being (Diener et al., 1985), followed by identification strength for each racial background and the Multiracial group (Luhtanen & Crocker, 1992). The group that someone most strongly identifies with will be considered their primary identification for this study. For each racial background selected, participants will complete 7-items assessing specific discrimination (Giamo et al., 2012). We will utilize a racial invalidation scale to measure identity-contingent discrimination (12-items; Franco & O’Brien, 2018). Five-items adapted from Schmitt et al. (2002) will be used to measure anti-miscegenation discrimination (e.g., “I feel like I am personally a victim of society because of my mixed racial background”). Three items will assess vicarious discrimination (“How often have you witnessed racist or offensive [comments/jokes/behaviors] directed at someone else who shared one or more of your racial backgrounds?”).

Analytic plan This study will investigate the extent to which Multiracial people experience different types of discrimination and the characteristics of Multiracial individuals (i.e., primary identification) that make them more or less likely to experience these four types. It will also test what discrimination types are associated with psychological well-being. Multiple linear regressions will be used to answer these research questions. In sum, the proposed research will shed new light on mixed-race individuals’ experiences with different types of discrimination and how these experiences relate to well-being.

Although these processes can potentially happen to people of any race, the Multiracial demographic illuminates key dimensions related to types of discrimination not immediately apparent in monoracial contexts. Isolating these different kinds of discrimination is a broadly interesting phenomena that provides a deeper understanding of race relations in the U.S. Figure 1. A working framework to understand discrimination typology and impacts on well-being.

Paper For Above instruction

Discrimination remains a pervasive concern impacting individuals across various racial and ethnic groups, with multiracial individuals experiencing unique and complex forms of social rejection. These experiences significantly influence psychological well-being, underscoring the importance of understanding the nuanced nature of discrimination faced by multiracial populations. This essay explores the different types of discrimination experienced by multiracial individuals, the mechanisms through which these forms of discrimination manifest, and their implications for mental health, drawing on the proposed research framework and relevant literature.

To begin, it is essential to contextualize the significance of social belonging and rejection. Walton and Cohen (2011) demonstrated that social acceptance enhances well-being and health outcomes, while rejection causes emotional pain and social withdrawal. For multiracial individuals, experiences of rejection are multifaceted and often stem from both intra- and intergroup conflicts, owing to their complex racial identities. The intersectionality of racial identities complicates their social experiences, often resulting in specific forms of discrimination such as racial discrimination targeting individual racial backgrounds within their multiracial makeup. These targeted forms of discrimination are well-documented in literature examining monoracial communities, but less so in multiracial contexts (Brackett et al., 2006).

Research indicates that multiracial people often face rejection from different groups: people of color may question their allegiance to POC communities due to their White heritage, whereas White individuals may reject multiracial individuals to maintain racial boundaries or reinforce existing social hierarchies (Chen et al., 2018; Krosch & Amodio, 2014). This dual-source discrimination complicates their social experiences, contributing to psychological distress. Currently, there is a paucity of theoretical frameworks explicitly addressing multiracial discrimination, which hampers comprehensive understanding and intervention development.

The proposed research aims to fill this gap by developing a framework categorizing four types of discrimination: racial discrimination directed toward specific racial backgrounds, anti-miscegenation discrimination rooted in societal attitudes towards interracial families, identity-contingent discrimination arising from perceived inconsistencies in racial identification, and vicarious discrimination witnessed but not directly experienced. Each form uniquely affects multiracial individuals' psychological health and their perception of social acceptance. For example, racial discrimination may target one aspect of their racial identity, such as being perceived as a threat or as not "belonging" to a specific group, leading to feelings of alienation. Identity-contingent discrimination involves negative perceptions based on how others interpret one's racial identity, which can undermine self-esteem and sense of integrity (Franco & O’Brien, 2018).

Anti-miscegenation discrimination, reflecting societal prohibitions and prejudices against interracial relationships, can cause multiracial individuals to feel stigmatized or marginalized within their communities (Giamo et al., 2012). Witnessing racist comments or behaviors toward others of similar racial backgrounds, or vicarious discrimination, also impacts mental health by fostering a sense of ongoing threat or social betrayal, even without direct victimization. These complex forms of discrimination necessitate a nuanced approach to measurement and intervention.

The methodology proposed involves a sample of 200 multiracial participants recruited via Qualtrics, utilizing screening questions that include individuals with multiple racial backgrounds. Participants will complete standardized scales assessing their well-being, racial identification strength, and various types of discrimination. The analyses will focus on understanding how individual differences such as primary racial identification influence experiences of discrimination and their subsequent psychological effects, using multiple linear regressions to determine the predictive relationships.

Literature suggests that discrimination adversely affects mental health, contributing to depression, anxiety, and lowered self-esteem (Gonsalkorale & Williams, 2007; Schmitt et al., 2002). For multiracial individuals, this impact is compounded by identity complexity, potentially leading to internal conflict and social withdrawal. Understanding the specific types of discrimination they face allows for targeted interventions aimed at fostering social inclusion, resilience, and psychological well-being.

In sum, examining the multiplicity of discrimination types encountered by multiracial people deepens the understanding of race relations and social cohesion in the United States. Recognizing the unique challenges faced by multiracial communities helps inform policy, education, and mental health practices aimed at reducing prejudice and promoting inclusivity. Future research should explore additional characteristics, such as the racial background of perpetrators, to further contextualize discrimination's impact and develop comprehensive preventive measures.

References

• Brackett, K. P., et al. (2006). The effects of Multiracial identification on students' perceptions of racism. The Social Science Journal, 43(3), 431-445.
• Chen, J. M., Nour, K. S., & Ho, A. K. (2018). Whose side are you on? Asian Americans’ mistrust of Biracials predicts more exclusion from the ingroup. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 45(2), 201-215.
• Giamo, L. S., Schmitt, M. T., & Outten, H. R. (2012). Perceived discrimination, group identification, and life satisfaction among multiracial people: A test of the rejection- identification model. Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology, 18(4), 417-429.
• Gonsalkorale, K., & Williams, K. D. (2007). The KKK won’t let me play: Ostracism even by a despised outgroup hurts. European Journal of Social Psychology, 37(3), 529-541.
• Krosch, A. R., & Amodio, D. M. (2014). Economic scarcity alters the perception of race. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 111(25), 9031-9036.
• Luhtanen, R., & Crocker, J. (1992). A collective self-esteem scale: Self-evaluation of one’s social identity. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 18(3), 302-318.
• Schmitt, M. T., Branscombe, N. R., Kobrynowicz, D., & Owen, S. (2002). Perceiving discrimination against one’s gender group has different implications for well-being in women and men. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 28(2), 197-210.
• Walton, G. M., & Cohen, G. L. (2011). A brief social-belonging intervention improves academic and health outcomes of minority students. Science, 331(6023), 1477-1480.