Biracial Identity Development: Narratives of Biracial Korean American University Students in Heritage Language Classes

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Washington, 2016-06

Despite the increasing biracial and multiracial population in the United States, there are few studies on the identity development of people with racially mixed backgrounds. This study examines eleven biracial Korean American university students using participant observation, semi-structured interviews, and document analysis. In particular, it focuses on how biracial Korean Americans construct and engage with their identities, the factors that influence this process, and how Korean heritage language on the higher education level play a role in identity development. The narratives of biracial Korean American university students illustrates the intersection where biracial and multiracial identities are situated, describe how individuals navigate two or more cultures in which race and language are viewed differently, challenge the existing categories of heritage language, and shed light on identity development in the higher education context.