Growing Trans Community Awareness?

Yahoo!News Talks About Struggles Facing Transgender Folks

Hey friends!

This is just a quick post to mention something that caught my eye.

Mixed Lingo - part 4

More Mixed-Related Terms That You've Been Waiting For!

Hi friends!  We've got another installment of the "Mixed Lingo" series for your reading pleasure.  To go along with the "Growing Up Mixed" blog's post on the intersection of mixed-related issues and other social justice areas (get up to date at Social Justice for Mixed Folks!), I selected more social justice-y terms this time.

Let the fun begin!

Mixed Young Folks - School to Workplace

The Mixed Teen, College Student, Young Adult Experience! 

Hi friends!  In this post, we'll talk broadly about the experiences of multiracial, multiethnic, blended, mixed young people.  This blog caters to mixed high school and university students, and young people in general.  Let's explore!

High School

Social Justice for Mixed Folks

Mixed Folks and Social Justice: Intersection!

Hi friends!  I noticed that the “Mixed Lingo” posts have been pretty popular (part 1, part 2, part 3).  My work as an intern at my school’s multicultural center introduced me to social justice and the terms that I put in the “Mixed Lingo” series.

In this post, we’ll get acquainted with social justice and how it applies to multiracial, multiethnic, blended, mixed folks.

Social Justice: (definition found here)

Race-Related Intersection

Guidelines - "So What Are You?" part 2

How Can Mixed Folks Respond to the Question: "So What Are You?"

Hi mixed race and mixed ethnicity friends!  Let's continue our discussion on how mixed folks can respond to the somtimes hurtful question "So what are you?"  Below are a few methods you could use when dealing with this issue.

Yahoo! News Article: Mixed-Race Relevant?

"Rise of Latino population blurs US racial lines" - A Yahoo! News Article

Hey mixed kids!  How's Monday treating you?

Guidelines - "So What Are You?" part 1

Dealing With the Question: "So What Are You?"

It is time, my mixed friends, to tackle the dreaded question, "So what are you?"  Let Jared Padalecki's face convey your feelings.

As a multiracial, multiethnic, blended, mixed teen, college student or otherwise young person, I'm sure you've been asked this question before.

Maybe an acquaintance heard you refer to yourself as latino then later as asian and calls you on it.  Maybe someone's been sneaking glances at you and finally owns up to it, saying that they can't figure out what race and/or ethnicity you look like.  Whatever the lead in might be, the conclusion's often the same: "Wait, so what are you anyway?"

Similar to the “I don’t find ________s attractive” post (found here), we’ll discuss the ways: 1) how “so what are you?” can be hurtful to mixed folks, and 2) how you, someone who identifies as mixed, can respond in a series of two posts.  In this first post, we’ll look at why asking such a question can come across as hurtful to mixed folks.  Ready, go!

 

What Makes “So what are you?” Hurtful?

Online Resources: The MAVIN Foundation

A Look by "Growing Up Mixed" at:

The MAVIN Foundation

Hey friends!  Here's another installment of the "online resources" series.  Last time, we looked at "Multicultural Familia," a great website for multiracial, multiethnic, interracial, blended, mixed issues in current events and overlapping social justice spheres.  Check out the "Multicultural Familia" post here if you missed it!

Let's look at The MAVIN Foundation's website as a resource for you, the fierce, fabulous mixed teens, college students and otherwise young people of today!

MAVIN: "The Mixed Race Experience"

Mixed Lingo - Part 3

Even More Mixed Lingo!

Hey mixed friends!  Let's keep the ball rolling and expand our vocabulary!  (We're such good students, aren't we?) :P  Here are even more multiracial- and multiethnic-related terms!  (Part 1 here and Part 2 here.)

Mixed Terms for your Reading Pleasure

"Help!  My Extended Family Just Doesn't Get My Mixed Heritage!"

"Why do you ________?  Is it because your mom's _________?"

"Your hair doesn't look like our side of the family's.  It's all ________."

"But you're also ________.  So why don't you ________ like us?"

Sometimes family members (including us!) don't get it right.  You don't want to alienate everyone who says something like the above, but you also want to change how some of their comments/questions come off as hurtful.  Life as a mixed person: it's tough!

Here are some tips for resolving your "extended family vs. mixed heritage" issues!

Resolving Extended Family and Heritage Issues Like the Awesome Mixed Person You Are!

Online Resources: Multicultural Familia

Internet Resource for Mixed (Multiracial, Multiethnic) Folks: "Multicultural Familia"

Welcome to another installment of the Online Resources series!  Last time we looked at the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry's page on multiracial families (found here) and The Multiracial Network blog (found here).

In this installment, we'll talk about the website Multicultural Familia (found here) and how it can be a great resource for multiracial, multiethnic, blended, mixed folks.

Multicultural Familia: A Great Resource for All Ages

Mixed Lingo - Part 2

More Mixed Lingo!

Hey friends!  I noticed that the original "Mixed Lingo" post has been pretty popular with y'all (found here).

I decided to expand on the list of useful terms when discussing multiracial, multiethnic, mixed issues.  Can you have too much of a good thing? Nonsense! :P

Mixed-Related Terms (Part the Second)

Setting up a Mixed Student Organization

A Call For Mixed Student Organizations
You know what I could have really used in high school and college?  A club for multircial, multiethnic, blended, mixed kids.  

Alas! There were none!

But why is this so?  Let's explore!

Why No Mixed Student Organization on Your Campus?

Guidelines - Hurtful Comments from Friends

Guidelines for Confronting Friends on Mixed-Hurtful Comments

"I don't find  _________s attractice."

"You know who I don't find attractive? _________s."

"I don't think ___________s are hot.  They're too _________."

You've heard all of these before.  You're chatting with someone, (a friend, an acquaintance, a coworker), and they drop the not!attractive bomb.  You casually mention that you're actually part __________.

Here comes the kicker:

"No offense."

This conversation has been a major thorn in the side of people of color.  "No offense?"  Um, no, plenty of offense!

Online Resources: The Multiracial Network Blog

Internet Resource for Mixed (Multiracial, Multiethnic) Folks: "The Multiracial Network Blog"

Hey friends!  Today we're going to look at another great online resource for the mixed community.  To quickly recap, the last resource we looked at was the "Facts for Families - Multiracial Children" page from the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry in this post.

Today's onlines resource is "The Multicultural Network."  Ready for a blast of resourcy goodness?

The Multiracial Network Blog: Think Outside the Box

Online Resources: American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

Resources You Can Find Online for Multiracial, Multiethnic, "Mixed" Families: "Facts for Families - Multiracial Children"

Hey y'all!  Let's look at some of the prominent online resources for mixed folks.  It's important to know what's out there (besides my own lovely blog) for the multiracial/multiethnic community and its issues.

My elaborate research methods involved typing in terms like "multiracial families" in Google.  :P  The website we're examining in this post was at the top of the list.

There'll be more installments in the future with additional resources.  In the mean time, feel free to send any recommendations!

Alright, here we go!

Facts for Families -  Multiracial Children

The "Select One" Option on University Applications - Part 4

Selecting Just One Applicable Racial/Ethnic Identity on a University Application's Race Reporting Form

Welcome to the last installment of Growing Up Mixed's series on how to fill out the race reporting form that's a part of most university applications as a multiracial and/or multiethnic individual.  

So far, we've covered the pros and cons of:

1. Selecting all applicable racial and ethnic identities
2. Selecting "Other" or an unspecified option and writing in "multiracial" and/or "multiethnic" in the blank space provided

Selecting only one applicable racial or ethnic identity is the last option we'll discuss.  So, what are the pros and cons of the "just one" option?

Benefits of Selecting "Just One"

The "Other" Option on Univeristy Applications - Part 3

Selecting "Other" on a University Application Race Reporting Form

Welcome to the next installment of Growing Up Mixed's series on racial and ethnic self-identification on a university application as a mixed person.  In this section, we'll look at the pros and cons of selecting "Other," or a similar unspecified option, and writing "multiracial" and/or "multiethnic" in the blank space provided.

If you want a quick recap of what we discussed in part 1, selecting all applicable identities, check out 

Benefits of Selecting "Other"

"Selecting All" on University Applications - Part 2

Selecting All Applicable Racial/Ethnic Identities

on a University Application

A wild university application appears!  Oh no!  The application uses "select your racial/ethnic identity!"  But you're *gasp* mixed!

Don't hurt yourself in your confusion.  You can actually use your mutiracial and/or multiethnic identity to your advantage on a university application!  In the first of a three part series, I'll explain some of the pros and cons of your best options for tackling the race/ethnicity reporting form.  

In this section, we're going to look at some of the possible results of selecting all racial and ethnic identities that apply to you.

Benefits of Selecting All Applicable Identities

University Applications

What do I pick when a university application asks for my racial and/or ethnic identity and I'm mixed?

You're filling out a form for the STAR, SAT, ACT or high school exit exam and you reach the section about your racial and ethnic information.  Damn, you think, this problem again!  As a mixed kid, what do I pick?  

Mixed Lingo

Mixed: Terms We'll Be Using

Hey there!  Before we get started on the "growing up multiracial and/or multiethnic (mixed)," let's get to know some mixed lingo.

Indentity: Your identities are how you describe yourself.  Identities often include things like race, ethnicity, sexuality, gender, etc.  For example, I identify as a multiracial and multiethnic woman.  These are only some of my indentities.

Your identities are your own.  You are the only person who can identify yourself as anything.  There are no hard and fast rules for identities.  Identities can be fluid.  Feel free to share or not share your identities.

Welcome!

Welcome to : Growing Up In A Mixed Family!  

As a multiracial and multiethnic, "mixed," college senior from the wonderfully diverse state of California, I've had my share of ups and downs growing up with multiple racial and ethnic identities.  As I got older, I really wanted a community outside my home with other folks who identified as multiracial, multiethnic, blended, etc. as a resource and support group.  

I didn't find what I was looking for until I went to college and started working at the multicultural center.  There, I learned about things ranging from self-identification and external vs. internal racism to ideas like reclaiming and passing.  My time at the multicultural center and my own experienes growing up mixed motivated me to make the community that I always wanted.

This blog is a resource for mixed kids, teens, college students and young adults on situation-specific issues facing multiracial and/or multiethnic youths.  Reviews on other online resources, advice on difficult social and academic situations and a variety of discussions on current events involving mixed themes can be found on the "Growing Up Mixed blog.  

If you have any suggestions, comments, questions, etc., definitely write them in the "comments" section below each post.  Let's get a community of mixed youths going!  Just please be polite is all I ask. :)

To all my lovely multiracial, multiethnic, blended, mixed, (or however you identify), young people out there, welcome!


<3 Elise "The Mixed Blogging Chick"