Identity development of ‘mixed race’ people in the Netherlands

This thesis investigates the identity formation of Black/white ‘mixed race’ people in the Netherlands. There is currently no existing research on this topic. Interviews were conducted with 10 Black/white 'mixed race' respondents who were asked about their racial lineages and how they came to understand themselves. The results showed that the identity formation process is unique and a struggle for all respondents. They experience being pushed away from whiteness due to exclusion, microaggressions and discrimination. On the other hand, they feel pushed away from Blackness, by feelings of disconnection from Blackness. Lastly, most of the respondents felt a sense of self and cultural belonging in being ‘mixed race’ and/or Black because of doing research and interacting with other people with similar experiences. However, a difference between men and women in the sample was noted. The conclusion is therefore due to their social/cultural upbringing, societal variables in the Netherlands, family structure, racial-ethnic socialization, external racial gaze, and cultural (dis)connection, Black/white ‘mixed race’ persons in the Netherlands have a range of experiences, which makes their identification process distinct. Further research should focus on a bigger sample size and look into the difference between genders and identity formation.