Counseling Biracial Women

Racial identity invalidation with multiracial individuals: An instrument development study.

“…Definitions of racial identity invalidation have varied considerably. Some studies define invalidation tautologically as the invalidation of racial identity (Nishimura, 2004;Rockquemore & Brunsma, 2002), whereas others highlight pressure to identify as Monoracial (Buckley & Carter, 2004), questioning of one's identity (Rockquemore, 2002), tension between ascribed and internal identities (Khanna, 2010;Lou et al, 2011;Salahuddin & O'Brien, 2011), forced-choice racial identity situations (Sanchez, 2010;Shih & Sanchez, 2005), lack of support in identity choice (Coleman & Carter, 2007), racial inauthenticity accusations (Romo, 2011), and identity denial (Townsend et al, 2009). With the variability of definitions of identity invalidation across studies, the following comprehensive definition of this construct was created for this study and is inclusive of prior definitions and research findings: racial identity invalidation is rooted in historical classifications of racial groups as exclusive, essentialized, and hierarchical (Rockquemore & Laszloffy, 2003).…”

“…Discriminatory experiences, which might include invalidation, are a prevalent issue for Multiracial individuals (Brackett et al, 2006; Buckley & Robert, 2004; Herman, 2004), are perpetrated by both majority and minority group members (Brackett et al, 2006; Rockquemore & Brunsma, 2002), and relate to psychological distress (Jackson, Yoo, Guevarra, & Harrington, 2012; Salahuddin & O’Brien, 2011). Moreover, racial identity invalidation harms psychological and physical health (Coleman & Carter, 2007; Nishimura, 2004; Rockquemore & Brunsma, 2002; Townsend et al, 2009), relates to suicidal ideation and attempts (Campbell & Troyer, 2007), and negatively affects affiliations with others (Campbell & Troyer, 2007; Romo, 2011).…”

“…Racial identity invalidation, the denial or misperception of another’s racial identity, persists at interpersonal and societal levels, despite the negative consequences of this stressor on Multiracial individuals (Lou, Lalonde, & Wilson, 2011; Sanchez, 2010). Specifically, racial identity invalidation detrimentally affects perception of self, self-esteem, motivation, psychological, and physical health (Coleman & Carter, 2007; Nishimura, 2004; Rockquemore & Brunsma, 2002; Townsend, Markus, & Bergsieker, 2009), is related to increased suicidal thoughts and rates of suicide attempts (Campbell & Troyer, 2007), and threatens group-identification and social status of Multiracial individuals (Campbell & Troyer, 2007; Romo, 2011). Although racial identity invalidation is one of the most potent racial stressors for Multiracial individuals (Shih & Sanchez, 2005), the measurement of this construct has been underdeveloped, calling into question the validity of past racial identity invalidation research.…”

An exploration of multiracial identity development, worldviews, and social realities of Asian–White individuals.

“…Multiracial individuals often report that their physical features, especially skin color and hair texture, can be both an asset and a liability (Nishimura, 2004). For instance, a multiracial woman whose features are more readily identifiable with the Western ideal of beauty may gain a greater level of acceptance from the dominant society yet may be shunned by minority group members.…”

Impact of Identity Invalidation for Black Multiracial People

“…In identifying as mixed, multiracial people are accused of being disillusioned with their Blackness and thinking themselves better than Black people (Rockquemore & Laszloffy, 2003; Thorton, 2009). Furthermore, privileges related to being more light skinned may garner resentment toward multiracial individuals and subsequent identity invalidation (Nishimura, 2004; Rockquemore & Laszloffy, 2003). For example, multiracial women report that Black women are envious of the advantage that multiracial phenotype gives them with Black men, and Black women retaliate by calling their Blackness into question (Rockquemore, 2002).…”