Working Paper: NBER ID: w13793
Authors: Christopher Ruebeck; Susan Averett; Howard Bodenhorn
Abstract: Although rates of interracial marriage are on the rise, we still know relatively little about the experiences of mixed-race adolescents. In this paper, we examine the identity and behavior of mixed-race (black and white) youth. We find that mixed-race youth adopt both types of behaviors -- those that can be empirically characterized as "black" and those that can be characterized as "white". When we combine both types of behavior, average mixed-race behavior is a combination that is neither white nor black, and the variance in mixed-race behavior is generally greater than the variance in behavior of monoracial adolescents, especially as compared to the black racial group. Adolescence is the time during which there is most pressure to establish an identity, and our results indicate that mixed-race youth are finding their own distinct identities, not necessarily "joining" either monoracial group, but in another sense joining both of them.
Keywords: No keywords provided
JEL Codes: J11; J13; J15; Z13
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| mixed-race youth adopt behaviors (J15) | unique identity (F02) |
| mixed-race behavior combines elements of both racial identities (J15) | unique identity (F02) |
| variance in mixed-race behavior > variance in monoracial behavior (J15) | distinct behavioral pattern (D91) |
| pressure to establish an identity during adolescence (L26) | distinct behavioral pattern (D91) |
| mixed-race identities are less codified than monoracial identities (J15) | broader range of behaviors (E70) |
| mixed-race adolescents report higher satisfaction with school (I24) | complex relationship between identity and behavior (D91) |
| mixed-race adolescents face more troubles in school (I24) | complex relationship between identity and behavior (D91) |