Ethnic Studies Colloquium by Karen Suyemoto

“What am I? Multiple Identities and Related Attributed Experiences for Mainland Multiracial Japanese European Americans”

This colloquium/roundtable will examine multiracial identity from a survey of multiracial Japanese European Americans and invite discussion comparing and contrasting the experiences of multiracial Asian Americans in Hawai’i.

Two major questions have shaped the experiences of multiracial individuals on the mainland are “What are you?” and “What about the children?” The first question is rooted in the assumption of simplistic race categories. Multiracial individuals often protest the need to “check one box only” on government forms, while racial and ethnic identity models in psychology have historically assumed a single identification. The second question is aimed at the parents of multiracial children and reflects the stereotypical view that multiracial individuals will be confused and psychologically damaged. But what is the actual experience? How do multiracial individuals on the mainland identify if they have a variety of choices? And what kinds of experiences do they, themselves, attribute to being multiracial?

Event Sponsor
Ethnic Studies

More Information
Pensri Ho, 956-5086, pensri@hawaii.edu

Ongoing Events