Identity Development of Multiethnic People in Germany

There are two perspectives when considering the unique positioning of multiethnic people in society, meaning children of parents from two different ethnicities. On the one hand, they are seen as exceptionally versatile in adapting to different contexts. This rests on the assumption that their families are prototypes of modernity and integration and that the influence of two or more cultures they receive from childhood onwards would equip them with an openness and adaptability to other cultures. On the other hand, multiethnic people are viewed as tragic, torn and in-between due to their unique positioning, never fitting in completely and finding no group where they fully belong.

But how do multiethnic people themselves perceive their unique positionality? With the method of biographic-narrative interviews, this question will be explored. The context of the analysis is Germany, a country where a colourblind, postracial attitude resulting from its national socialist past often obscures discussions about ethnicity. This has led to a significant research gap on multiethnicity in Germany. The chosen interview method allows for an intersectional analysis of the multidimensional development of identity, recognizing that identity is not stable or one-faceted but rather quite the opposite. Comparing life stories from a diverse array of backgrounds allows insights into racialization processes as well as other factors such as the conditions of upbringing or unique personality that shape multiethnic people’s sense of belonging. This paper will argue that multiethnic identity development cannot be simplified into one of the above perspectives as either exceptionally versatile or tragically torn. Instead, the interviews reveal a more complex reality by pointing to the flexibility, context-dependency, and uniqueness of multiethnic identities.