How do Black Multiracial Swedes Experience Racial Identity Formation in Sweden? (PDF)

Bachelor Thesis from the year 2021 in the subject Sociology - Individual, Groups, Society, grade: B, Malmö University, language: English, abstract: This thesis examines how biracial and multiracial individuals experience racial identity formation in Sweden. An investigation was conducted into their childhood and upbringing to explore how these experiences shape the way that their identity is formed. To arrive at the results of this dissertation, six individuals who self-identify themselves as Black biracial Swedes were recruited to participate in the data collection process.

This mean that this research has used primary tools such as semi-structured interviews to collect data from the participants. This study has used two contemporary positive theories of biracial and multiracial identity formation which are Poston's Biracial identity model and Roots resolution for resolving otherness. Within these two theoretical frameworks, the research question and aim was answered through analysis of the respondents. Themes that were used to analyse the interviewees responses where alienation from racial identity, picking a side, language as identity and, familiar support and negative experiences. The results finding shows that most interviewees experience a challenge in the process of identifying themselves with a specific racial group leading to a development of a gap in the process of self- identification.