Locating Multiethnic Families in a Globalizing World

Abstract

To derive new insights into the growing number of multiethnic, immigrant, transnational families in the United States and abroad, we need to incorporate the concept of globalization into our analysis. As the world becomes increasingly interconnected, an ever‐growing number of heterogeneous individuals are associating with each other and being exposed to new lifestyles, behaviors, and cultural values. This exposure is leading to increased heterogamous relationships and families. The fluidity, flow, and dynamism that characterizes contemporary social life is a critical aspect of understanding multiethnic, immigrant, transnational families. To conduct research and design policies that encourage the well‐being of families, we need to integrate into family scholarship a focus on economics, migration, and varied beliefs and values.

Integrating Life Course, Globalization, and the Study of Racial and Ethnic Families

“…There is much empirical evidence that the dynamics of family life are changing in the face of globalizing processes (Diewald & Mayer, ; Park, ; Parreñas, ; Rumbaut & Komaie, ; Trask, ). These changes in families are occurring despite the prevalence in so many places of primarily patriarchal cultural values, traditions, and practices (Budig, ).…”

“…Much of the world's population still lives in collectivistic societies, and many subgroups in U.S. society adhere to and emphasize values that stress group membership over individual identity formation and achievement (Burton, ; Dilworth‐Anderson & Anderson, ). Given this social complexity, theories and research based on individualized notions of behavior and that presume a standard or primary shared experience do not capture the fundamental processes that characterize family life, especially in increasingly diverse contexts (Denzin & Lincoln, 2008; Edgar, ; Trask, ). This fundamental error leads to inaccurate research designs and findings and serves to further perpetuate Western biases, eventually leading to ineffective policies and programs (Park, ).…”

A Global Look at Mixing: Problems, Pitfalls and Possibilities

“…As Morning (2014: 2) argues, 'even if there is no utility for a "transnational model of multiraciality", cross national comparative research is necessary so there is exposure to diverse systems of racial ideology that would help us better identify the meaningful characteristics of any single one in particular […] and help us analyse the causes and consequences of different approaches to analysing mixed identity' and marriage. Similarly, Trask (2013) argues for the importance of considering the formation of multi-ethnic, transnational families, in light of increased migration, coupled with the rapid spread of information and ability to communicate through technology, as an integral aspect of globalisation.…”

Ambiguous Loss Due to Separation in Voluntary Transnational Families

“…An abundance of research over several decades can be found on migration's impetus and outcomes, often related to impacts on economic well‐being (i.e., via remittances) or immigrants' experiences of acculturation or assimilation in the receiving country (e.g., Portes & Puhrmann, ; Rumbaut, ). Family scholarship has more recently recognized the importance of understanding transnational family configurations and the relationship dynamics that characterize them (e.g., Karraker, ; Mazzucato & Schans, ; Trask, ). However, Trask () points out that most of our theoretical frameworks are currently “unable to incorporate and shed light onto their complexity” (p. 17).…”

“…Family scholarship has more recently recognized the importance of understanding transnational family configurations and the relationship dynamics that characterize them (e.g., Karraker, ; Mazzucato & Schans, ; Trask, ). However, Trask () points out that most of our theoretical frameworks are currently “unable to incorporate and shed light onto their complexity” (p. 17).…”