Ethnically and Racially Mixed Families in the U nited S tates

Abstract

Ethnically and racially mixed families consist of family members of different ethnicity or race. Until 1967, interracial unions were outlawed. With the deconstruction of legal barriers to interracial marriage, social acceptance and the number of ethnically and racially mixed relationships have grown considerably. Yet, ethnically and racially mixed families today may face challenges regarding family identity development, boundary management, social disapproval, and racism. Parents have the added task of supporting their multiracial children's healthy ethnic/racial identity development and preparing them to manage social relations across ethnic and racial lines both within and outside the family. Research suggests that multiracial youth identify in a variety of ways; they may also change their identity across context and over time. Their racial identification depends on numerous individual, family, and situational factors and is associated with diverse developmental outcomes. Future research should study young children's development over time in ethnically and racially mixed families.