A Mixed Sense of Belonging: Fluid Experiences for Multiracial and Multiethnic College Students

Abstract

Sense of belonging is a key factor in college student development and learning (Strayhorn, 2019). For multiracial and multiethnic college students, limited information exists on sense of belonging as an independent construct with full attention to its social, cognitive, and affective elements. As such, it is difficult to clearly depict how these students experience institutional or contextual sense of belonging in college and what factors contribute to it. Further research is warranted to effectively support the growing multiracial and multiethnic college student population for the reasons that they have unique racial and ethnic needs and experiences which may influence belonging. Based on a qualitative study with 11 multiracial and multiethnic college students at one predominantly white institution (PWI), the chapter highlights multiple factors that influenced these students’ sense of belonging. Significant factors include the perpetuation of monoracism, fluidity of students’ racial and ethnic identity, and experiences of multiracial microaggressions. Two behavioral strategies were used by students to manage their reduced sense of belonging: (a) accommodate to monoracial norms through situational identity and (b) resist conforming to monoracial norms through disengagement and disruption of multiracial microaggressions. The chapter concludes with key considerations for higher education practitioners and scholars working to understand and support multiracial and multiethnic students’ sense of belonging in college.