ABSTRACT

Guided by Multiracial critical theory and actor-network theory, this study examines how the United States Census options for ethnicity and race reinforced monocentric norms (the assumption that everyone should fit into a distinct racial-ethnic category) and White Supremacy for Multiracial individuals. Five hundred and thirty-nine Multiracial young adults answered open-ended questions about the 2020 United States Census, including why they chose specific ethnic-racial categories and how they felt about the choices provided. Overall, we found that the U.S. Census stabilized monocentric norms and White Supremacy by (1) stabilizing monoracial assumptions, (2) stabilizing the exclusion of racialized groups, and (3) stabilizing Asian American stereotypes. However, Multiracial participants could challenge and destabilize these norms by filling out the Census strategically. Finally, we discuss policy implications and how social scientists, researchers, and data collection agencies can measure race and ethnicity more compassionately and comprehensively to reduce Multiracial stigma.

摘要

在多种族批判理论和行动者网络理论的指导下，本研究探讨了美国人口普查的族裔和种族选项如何强化单中心规范（假设每个人都应属于不同的种族-族裔类别）和多种族个体的白人至上主义。五百三十九名多种族青年回答了有关 2020 年美国人口普查的开放式问题，包括他们为什么选择特定的种族类别以及他们对所提供的选择有何看法。总体而言，我们发现美国人口普查通过 (1) 稳定单种族假设，(2) 稳定种族化群体的排斥，以及 (3) 稳定亚裔美国人的刻板印象，稳定了单中心规范和白人至上。然而，多种族参与者可以通过战略性地填写人口普查来挑战和破坏这些规范。最后，我们讨论了政策影响以及社会科学家、研究人员和数据收集机构如何更富有同情心和更全面地衡量种族和民族，以减少多种族的耻辱感。