Mixed-race individuals often shift self-categorization across contexts and lifespan.

Evidence

Mixed individuals have been shown to fluctuate in their self-categorization across the life-span (Doyle and Kao 2007; Harris and Sim 2002; Hitlin et al. 2006) and across contexts (Gaither et al. 2013; Huang and Degner, 2025b; Pauker et al. 2013; Shih and Sanchez 2005; Shih et al. 2010; Wilton et al. 2013). Thus, there may also be an additional strategy (D) that involves the selfcategorization into multiple groups (e.g., Black and White) and situationally shifting between these. For Mixed individuals who adopt this strategy, characteristics of the situation or context may be particularly relevant. — Anna X. Huang, Jacqueline M. Chen, and Juliane Degner, Being One or the Other, Both or Neither, 47

Categorization

• XREF: Directly feeds the reader’s purpose on how heterogeneous group members cope when they don’t fit a category cleanly. — connects to: Identity ranges across macro demographic categories, local cultural positions, and fleeting interactional stances. — Mary Bucholtz and Kira Hall, Identity and Interaction: A…, 38; Perceived similarity to a racial category drives self-categorization among mixed-race people — Anna X. Huang, Jacqueline M. Chen, and Juliane Degner, Being One or the Other, Both or…, 37; Mixed individuals shift racial self-categorization situationally, but only within boundary conditions. — Anna X. Huang, Jacqueline M. Chen, and Juliane Degner, Being One or the Other, Both or…, 102 (+6 more)

Broader Connections

• Mixed individuals shift racial self-categorization situationally, but only within boundary conditions. #qualifies (0.92) — Anna X. Huang, Jacqueline M. Chen, and Juliane Degner, Being One or the Other, Both or Neither, 102
• Mixed individuals shift self-categorization across situations because similarity tests prove inconclusive. #expands (0.90) — Anna X. Huang, Jacqueline M. Chen, and Juliane Degner, Being One or the Other, Both or Neither, 65
• Mixed-identity people shift self-categorizations situationally because prototype-similarity assessments stay inconclusive #expands (0.90) — Anna X. Huang, Jacqueline M. Chen, and Juliane Degner, Being One or the Other, Both or Neither, 60
• Mixed-identity individuals shift between racial identities to meet context-specific needs. #expands (0.88) — Anna X. Huang, Jacqueline M. Chen, and Juliane Degner, Being One or the Other, Both or Neither, 64
• Racial categorization of the same person varies by time, place, and context #corroborates (0.85)
• Mixed individuals shift identification within a single social domain. #qualifies (0.75) — Anna X. Huang, Jacqueline M. Chen, and Juliane Degner, Being One or the Other, Both or Neither, 79