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Multiracial" Identities and "Interracial" Relationships

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Multiracial Georgia State University ScholarWorks @ Georgia State University Sociology Dissertations Department of Sociology 8-21-2008 "Who Do You Think You're Border Patrolling?": Negotiating "Multiracial" Identities and "Interracial" Relationships Melinda Anne Mills Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.gsu.edu/sociology_diss Recommended Citation Mills, Melinda Anne, ""Who Do You Think You're Border Patrolling?": Negotiating "Multiracial" Identities and "Interracial" Relationships." Dissertation, Georgia State University, 2008. https://scholarworks.gsu.edu/sociology_diss/37 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Department of Sociology at ScholarWorks @ Georgia State University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Sociology Dissertations by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks @ Georgia State University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. “WHO DO YOU THINK YOU’RE BORDER PATROLLING?”: NEGOTIATING “MULTIRACIAL” IDENTITIES AND “INTERRACIAL” RELATIONSHIPS by MELINDA MILLS Under the Direction of Charles Gallagher ABSTRACT Research on racial border patrolling has demonstrated how people police racial borders in order to maintain socially constructed differences and reinforce divisions between racial groups and their members. Existing literature on border patrolling has primarily focused on white/black couples and multiracial families, with discussions contrasting “white border patrolling” and “black border patrolling,” in terms of differential motivations, intentions, and goals (Dalmage 2000). In my dissertation research, I examined a different type of policing racial categories and the spaces in- between these shifting boundaries. I offer up “multiracial interracial border patrolling” as a means of understanding how borderism impacts the lives of “multiracial” individuals in “interracial” relationships. In taking a look at how both identities and relationships involve racial negotiations, I conducted 60 in-depth, face-to-face qualitative interviews with people who indicated having racially mixed parentage or heritage. Respondents shared their experiences of publicly and privately managing their sometimes shifting preferred racial identities; often racially ambiguous appearance; and situationally in/visible “interracial” relationships in an era of colorblind racism. This management included encounters with border patrolling from strangers, significant others, and self. Not only did border patrolling originate from these three sources, but also manifested itself in a variety of forms, including benevolent (positive, supportive); beneficiary (socially and sometimes economically or materially beneficial); protective, and malevolent (negative, malicious, conflictive). Throughout, I discussed the border patrolling variations that “multiracial” individuals in “interracial” relationships face. I also worked to show how people’s participation in border patrolling encouraged their production of colorblind discourses as a strategy for masking their racial attitudes and ideologies about “multiracial” individuals in “interracial” relationships. INDEX WORDS: Multiracial Identities, Interracial, Border Patrolling, Partner Choice, Romantic Relationships, Family “WHO DO YOU THINK YOU’RE BORDER PATROLLING?”: NEGOTIATING “MULTIRACIAL” IDENTITIES AND “INTERRACIAL” RELATIONSHIPS by MELINDA MILLS A Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the College of Arts and Sciences Georgia State University 2008 Copyright by Melinda Anne Mills 2008 “WHO DO YOU THINK YOU’RE BORDER PATROLLING?”: NEGOTIATING “MULTIRACIAL” IDENTITIES AND “INTERRACIAL” RELATIONSHIPS by MELINDA MILLS Major Professor: Charles Gallagher Committee: Ralph LaRossa Wendy Simonds Electronic Version Approved: Office of Graduate Studies College of Arts and Sciences Georgia State University December 2008 IV DEDICATION To my Mom and Dad, who enjoy each other’s company every day and inspire me to find the kind of love that always seems brand new and, like theirs, will last for decades. To Maria, Karen, and Baby Evan. V ACKNOWLEDGMENTS To my committee: for encouraging and motivating me to build big dreams and pursue them passionately, intensely, and most of all, without apology. To my dissertation chair and academic advisor, Charles Gallagher, who was cutting edge enough to know that this topic was “cool” just as I was entering the Ph.D. program and beginning to solidify my interest in mixed race studies. I’m looking forward to working on third wave whiteness articles with you! Perhaps some popular culture studies ones too? To my committee member, Wendy Simonds, who warmly supported and encouraged me throughout the process. Thanks for being so inspiring, enjoyable, and funny. To my committee member, Ralph LaRossa, who encouraged me to recognize how this research offers contributions to the process of re-imagining families. Your enviable attention to detail strengthened my work, while your ideas gave my new perspectives on family matters. To the faculty, staff, and students of the Sociology Department. Special thanks to Selma, Dracy, and Quanda for always making my life a little bit easier and breezier. To all of the professors who invite my admiration and aspiration, especially Dr. Emanuela Guano, Dr. Allaine Cerwonka, Dr. Julie Kubala, Dr. Layli Phillips, Dr. Romney Norwood, Dr. Cassie White, and Dr. Denise Donnelly. To all of my family, for indulging me and my many sociological conversations that may not have made sense to you, since I like to use “big words.” I appreciate you listening anyway. Special thanks to my parents who always engaged and nurtured my curiosity and encouraged me to make “smart” sexy. To my sister, Maria, who lives mixture differently than I do, but shared in the wonderful and crazy experience of growing up in St. Thomas. To all of my friends, near and far, including Makeba, Omar, Calvin, Kari and Carlton, Donnell, Nadia, Saori, Dai, Tara, and especially the following (in no particular order): Sassy Melissa, your friendship and conversations have entertained and sustained me for many years; Oriana, you are always ready and able to make good times, good laughs, and good conversations; Jennifer, your company has kept me sane, and our conversations always offered me a fresh new perspective and insight; Heather, I hope others appreciate you and your sense of humor as much as I do; and Jon, thanks for always being up for something new, and for introducing me to new things. To my other buddies worldwide, you know who you are. VI To all of the music I listened to that helped me sail into my second winds late at night, and that provided the perfect inspiration for writing, and dancing (when I was avoiding writing). To everyone who makes me laugh in that startlingly, almost embarrassingly, loud kind of way, which then makes me laugh even more. To everyone who encouraged me in this endeavor, even the skeptics. To all of the mixed race people who shared some of their life experiences with me, helped me understand that being asked “What are you?” could be complimentary and confusing. Through your refreshingly reflective narratives, I see now how identity and partner choices can be contentious and celebrated, while adding texture and richness to your everyday lives. VII TABLE OF CONTENTS DEDICATION................................................................................................................... iv ACKNOWLEDGMENTS .................................................................................................. v CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION................................................................................ 1 Research Overview and Questions ..................................................................................... 1 Navigating Multiracial Interracial Borders......................................................................... 2 CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW, THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK AND METHODS/METHODOLOGY....................................................................................... 12 How Do You Solve A “Problem” Like Racial Mixture? Making Mixture Appear and Disappear .......................................................................................................................... 12 What is an “Interracial” Relationship? ............................................................................. 27 Measuring Mixture, Exploring Mixed Matters................................................................. 38 CHAPTER THREE: BORDER PATROLLING FROM THE OUTSIDE IN.................. 52 When Strangers Border Patrol Identities .......................................................................... 57 When Strangers Border Patrol Both Identities and Partner Choices .............................. 105 Conclusions..................................................................................................................... 133 CHAPTER FOUR: BORDER PATROLLING FROM OUTSIDERS WITHIN/INSIDER OTHERS/INSIDERS WITHOUT .................................................................................. 136 When Significant Others Border Patrol Identities .......................................................... 141 When Significant Others Border Patrol Both Identities and Partner Choices ................ 184 Conclusions..................................................................................................................... 221 CHAPTER FIVE: BORDERISM FROM THE INSIDE OUT......................................
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