Re-viewing Race and Mixedness: Mixed Race in Asia and the Pacific

ABSTRACT

Research into mixed race around the world has increased over the past years, with significant developments in theorizing and case studies in different contexts. However, mainstream mixed race theory remains anchored in the West, geographically and conceptually. This paper seeks to explore the meanings and classifications of mixed race around the globe. It looks at the concept of mixed race in Asia and the Pacific, specifically exploring the alternative understandings and categorizations of mixedness, belonging and heritage that have emerged through the region's histories of colonialism and migration, as well as the significant linguistic and cultural diversity. By looking at mixed race from a different standpoint, the paper seeks to enrich the current frameworks around critical mixed race studies.

KEYWORDS:

• Mixed race
• Asia
• Pacific
• race
• ethnicity
• critical mixed race theory

Acknowledgements

The author wishes to thank Farida Fozdar and Nizar Mohamed for their comments on earlier versions of this article.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Notes on contributor

Zarine L. Rocha is the Managing Editor of Current Sociology and the Asian Journal of Social Science. She has worked at the United Nations Research Institute for Social Development, the United Nations Environment Programme and the World Economic Forum. She is Co-Editor with Farida Fozdar of Mixed Race in Asia: Past, Present and Future (Routledge, 2017).

Notes

1 See the 2009 Viet Nam Census: http://portal.thongke.gov.vn/khodulieudanso2009/Tailieu/AnPham/KetQuaToanBo/3_Ketqua-toanbo.pdf

2 Ethnicity is only used when asking about Scheduled Tribes/Castes, not for the majority of the population. See http://www.censusindia.gov.in/Census_Data_2001/Census_Data_Online/Language/gen_note.html

3 See https://www.nis.gov.kh/nis/census2008/Census.pdf

4 See the census form here: http://www.census.go.kr/html/chp/foreigner/enGuide.html

5 See http://www.moj.go.jp/nyuukokukanri/kouhou/press_090710-1_090710-1.html

6 See http://www.stats.gov.cn/English/NewsEvents/201104/t20110428_26449.html

7 See the census form: http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/[email protected]/Lookup/2901.0Main%20Features802016/$FILE/2016%20Census%20Sample%20Household%20Form.pdf

8 Hapa is used in the Hawaiian context, but not commonly elsewhere.