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Please bring me your completed survey by Tuesday, May 3rd, 2011. I will be in the Music Hall afterschool on both Monday and Tuesday.
Interracial Families:
The Meaning of “Mixed-Race” in Contemporary Society
Introduction
This survey is part of an ongoing research project to discover more about the issues faced by interracial individuals and families in modern-day society. Participants of this survey will not be required to reveal their identities—this survey is conducted with a guarantee of complete anonymity.
Definitions
For the purposes of this survey, the definition of “interracial” will be limited to individuals/families who were (or whose parents were) conceived by couples of different racial backgrounds. Similarly, “interracial couples” will be limited to couples whose racial backgrounds can be physically and socially distinguished from one another’s by the average Canadian.
Individuals of “non-interracial descent” or who are “not interracial” will include all individuals who do not fall into the above categories, including those whose parents and grandparents are of the same or physically and socially very similar racial background(s).
How will it work?
For analysis, a basis of comparison will be drawn between the answers of participants of interracial and non-interracial descent. In combination with secondary research, the results from this survey will be incorporated in a research report that aims to ascertain what issues interracial individuals and families face and how different their interactions with contemporary society are compared to individuals who are not interracial.
PARTICIPANT INFORMATION
Age: ____ Gender (circle one): M F Prefer not to say
Race: ( ) Non-Mixed ( ) Mixed
Please specify*: ___________________________________________________
SURVEY QUESTIONS
Part A: Your Family
1. How would you describe the way you were raised?
a. My parents were too strict
b. My parents were reasonable but I have some bad memories
c. I think they did a good job
d. I could duck out of a few things but they didn’t turn a blind eye all the time
e. I sometimes feel they were too lenient
2. Have you witnessed conflict within your family (i.e. immediate vs. extended family OR just between immediate family)?
a. Yes, sometimes it really got to me
b. Yes, but it wasn’t a big deal
c. Sometimes.
d. No, we got along pretty well.
3. If yes to the above: What were the fights most often about?
¨ The Children (e.g. disciplining them, raising them, keeping them in touch with their roots, dealing with discrimination, etc.)
¨ Culture, Religion (e.g. customs/traditions, etc.)
¨ Clothing (e.g. modesty, traditions, etc.)
¨ Entertainment (e.g. appropriateness, culture, etc.)
¨ Finances
¨ Other, please specify: ____________________________________________
4. Have you witnessed conflict between your parents?
a. Yes, sometimes it really got to me
b. Yes, but it wasn’t a big deal
c. Sometimes.
d. No, they got along pretty well.
5. If yes to the above: What were the fights most often about?
¨ The Children (e.g. disciplining them, raising them, keeping them in touch with their roots, dealing with discrimination, etc.)
¨ Culture, Religion (e.g. customs/traditions, etc.)
¨ Clothing (e.g. modesty, traditions, etc.)
¨ Entertainment (e.g. age-appropriateness, sensitivity, culture, etc.)
¨ Finances
¨ Other, please specify: ____________________________________________
Part B: Your Surroundings
6. Were you or anyone you knew ever provoked, targeted, or teased in relation to your racial background or appearance?
a. Yes b. No
7. Please select all that most closely describe what occurred:
¨ Physical Contact (e.g., pushing, shoving, kicking, poking, hip-checking, unauthorized touching, etc.)
¨ Physical Mocking (e.g., making faces, rude gestures, mimicry, etc.)
¨ Verbal Abuse (e.g., name-calling, inappropriate jokes or comments, allusions, mockery of speech, etc.)
¨ Exclusion/Avoidance (e.g., from social activities, choosing the victim last, ignoring the victim, etc.)
¨ Other, please describe: ____________________________________________
8. Have you ever felt you were treated differently because of your race?
a. Yes, mostly positively.
b. Yes, mostly negatively.
c. No.
9. Are most of your peers from one race (or a few similar races)?
a. Yes b. No
10. How does the way you were raised compare with how your peers were raised?
a. My parents were too strict
b. My parents were too lenient
c. My parents were more or less the same as my peers’
d. There were some differences, but it wasn’t a big deal
e. I wish I were raised the way my friends were
Part C: Your Self
11. Have you ever felt disconnected from your family roots?
a. Often
b. Sometimes
c. No
12. Why or why not?
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13. Do you ever feel like you have to do something to “fit in”?
a. Yes b. No
If yes, what do you do?
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14. Is there a particular celebrity of similar race to you that you look up to?
a. Yes b. No
If yes, who is it?
___________________________________________________________________
15. Is there a particular celebrity of a different race from you that you look up to?
a. Yes b. No
If yes, who is it?
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Part D: Your Opinions
16. Do you feel that interracial relationships should be celebrated? Why or why not?
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17. Do you feel that people of mixed race are more likely to be successful than the average populace? Why or why not?
g
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