Date of Award

6-2022

Document Type

Thesis

Abstract

As the number of multiracial people continues to grow in the United States, so too has interest in understanding how they experience the world (Jackson, 2009). Existing research about multiracial individuals has explored the complexities of their racial and ethnic identity development, identity saliency, and mental health. This thesis explores perceptions of belonging among multiracial people. Data was collected through semi-structured Zoom interviews of young adults (n=3) at a large university in the Pacific Northwest. Data was analyzed using thematic coding and findings were triangulated among multiple researchers. The results of this study suggest that multiracial people may experience isolation from those around them and their culture, a need to justify their identities to others, and belonging when in community with other multiracial people.

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