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.

I-Statements:  I-statements are anything you want to share said from your unique perspective.  An I-statment would be: "I've always had a difficult time with....," or,"In my experience, I never meshed well when I had to..."  I-statements help us avoid hurtful generalizations.

Please use I-statements if you'd like to participate in the blog (comments, questions, discussions).

Mixed: Mixed broadly describes multiethnic and/or multiracial individuals.  In this blog, there are only positive connotations to the word "mixed."

Multiethnic: Multiethnic is being of more than one ethnicity.  But what exactly is ethnicity?  That's where it gets trickier.

According to Merriam-Webster.com, "ethnic" is: "of or relating to large groups of people classed according to common racial, national,  tribal, religious, linguistic, or cultural origin or background" (Merriam-Webster.com).

Colloquially, ethnicity is often tied to nationality.  Being partially of Irish and French descent and having those two cultures as influenes in my life, I identify multiethnic.  Again, your indentities are completely up to you.  Your definition of what consistutes your enthicity/ies is what matters.

Multiracial: Multiracial is being of more than one race.  With both asian and latina heritage (and several others), I identify as multiracial.

I'll turn this post into a reference Page with more terms soon.  Peace!

<3 Elise "The Mixed Blogging Chick"