The Rise of Mixed Parentage: A Sociological and Demographic Phenomenon to Be Reckoned With

Abstract

Ethno-racially mixed parentage is rising in frequency, creating a strong challenge to both census classification schemes and, indeed, to common conceptions of ethnicity and race. Majority (white) and minority (nonwhite or Hispanic) parentage predominates among individuals with mixed-family backgrounds. Yet in public presentations of census data and population projections, individuals with mixed backgrounds are generally classified as nonwhite. We analyze 2013 American Community Survey data and summarize the results of important studies to argue that individuals from mixed majority-minority backgrounds resemble whites more than they do minorities in terms of some key social characteristics and experiences, such as where they grow up and their social affiliations as adults. Those with a black parent are an important exception. An implication of this analysis is that census classification practices for mixed individuals risk distorting conceptions of the current population, especially its youthful portion, and promoting misunderstandings of ethno-racial change.

Blurring of colour lines? Ethnoracially mixed youth in Spain navigating identity

“…In parallel with the dramatic growth of immigration in Spain over the last few decades, particularly between 2000(Arango 2013, and in keeping with global trends (Alba, Beck, and Sahin 2018;Chito Childs 2018;King-O'Riain and Small 2014;Rodríguez-García 2015), mixed unions between immigrants and native Spaniardsand also between immigrants from different originshave grown exponentially (Rodríguez-García 2006;Rodríguez-García et al 2015). Owing to this increase in mixed couples, the number of mixed descendants (the children of intermarriage) has similarly risen.…”

Subnational Non‐Hispanic White Natural Decrease in the United States

“…Projections like these should be considered with caution because they depend heavily on who is defined as “white.” Given the growing number of interracial marriages and mixed‐race births, future projections of when, or even if, the country will become majority minority depend on how inclusive the definition of white is (Prewitt 2018; Alba et al. 2018).…”

“…There has been considerable discussion about who should be enumerated as “white” in demographic analysis (Alba et al. 2018; Prewitt 2018). 6 Although we acknowledge the relevance of this issue, it is beyond the purview of this research.…”

“…Questions remain about how the definition of white will change in the future, given its evolution to be more inclusive in American history (Alba et al. 2018; Prewitt 2018). But, there is little doubt that groups other than non‐Hispanic Whites as currently defined will be a larger share of the future population, in part due to white natural decrease.…”

“…There is also considerable evidence that the changing relative size of the majority white and minority populations has significant implications for voting behavior, political opinions, public dialogue and policy (Kaufmann 2019;Pew 2019;Myers and Levy 2018;Frey 2012). Questions remain about how the definition of white will change in the future, given its evolution to be more inclusive in American history (Alba et al 2018;Prewitt 2018). But, there is little doubt that groups other than non-Hispanic Whites as currently defined will be a larger share of the future population, in part due to white natural decrease.…”