Who am I: An Autoethnography on Mixed Ethno-Racial Identity and the Impact of Validation Within In-groups And Out-Groups

Rachel Rivera Mitchell, Purdue University

Abstract

The following thesis is an autoethnographic study that looks at narratives about communicative events and the social context that impacted the formation of identity, the deconstruction of identity and the reconstruction and integration of multiple identities housed in one body. The focus of the autoethnography is the lived experience of a mixed ethno-racial woman of Mexican heritage and Caucasian identity and how communicative events of validation and invalidation impacted the perceived identity of the individual. The conclusions drawn from the analysis stands as such. First, current theories and methods used to explore identity have limitations and the language and labels we use are inadequate. Second, while external factors including a person’s in-groups and out-groups as well as the social context impact ones perceived identity, through integration of one’s multiplicity of identity, we choose how much we allow it to impact our chosen identity.

Degree

M.A.

Advisors

LeBlanc, Purdue University.

Subject Area

Geography|Ethnic studies|Hispanic American studies|Sociology

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