I'm white. My wife is Asian. What is our daughter?

Question

When filling out forms, questions often ask for race (White, Black [of hispanic origin, not of hispanic origin], Asian/pacific islander, or Native American. There is never a place for mix. What should we consider our daughter.

Answer 1

My daughter is the same mix. I never felt comfortable classifying her by some arbitrary, pointless, divisive method as race selection. So I just didn't. Left it all blank. Then, when she started kindergarten, the choice was made for her. Noting that I had left that portion of her enrollment form blank, the office personnel helpfully filled in Asian. I saw her file later, and asked the principal why this was done. I was told that the district required it or she would not be admitted to school, and the selection was made due to "the way she looks, and her last name." I asked if I looked Asian at all to him. He said no. I asked why, then, did they not select White, since it would be equally accurate or inaccurate as Asian. "Simply put, we're allocated more money for minority students," he said. Now, she's officially Asian, at least as far as the Clark County School District is concerned, and any place else that swaps information with them.

So, you see, you don't have to worry about choosing a "racial identity" for your daughter. Sometime, somewhere, there will be a greedy bureaucrat who'll label her for you to his own best interest.

Answer 2

I am Native American & White (along with some other ethnicities). I have both personal and professional experience with this.

First of all it is Your Choice and eventually your daughters choice.

Second, you can always choose other if you'd like.

Having said that I recommend selecting Asian. There are a couple reasons for this. If you identify your daughter as Asian she will have more opportunities to participate in cultural clubs and activities. Also when she eventually applies for scholarships that'll be helpful. And in college there are Many benefits and resources for students of color. If your daughter wants to participate in cultural activities it could be embarrassing if you have selected White instead of Asian.

Answer 3

CaucAsian? :) There's usually another box that says other or non-specified or whatever. If you want her to have a label go with whatever culture you devour the most. If your wife is strongly for her Asian roots and you want to bring up your daughter in this was check Asian. Tough question though... I've always wondered that for mixed people when I go to check my box. It's just odd to me that in America they expect all people to know which box to check when there's so much diversity.

Oh I like what VW wrote! Check both boxes!!! Problem solved... whoever has to relay the information can figure it out themselves!

Answer 4

Mixed. I went through the same thing. My father is Hispanic and my mother is white. My mother used to fill out "white", because i'm light skinned, but I identify as being "mixed". Those forms really piss me off because it discredits us biracial and multi-racial people. You should call the company who makes those forms and let them know. I don't think most people would like to be called "other"...

Answer 5

The only benefit to claiming she is asian is perhaps some EEO opportunities. It really doesn't matter either way and those questions are always voluntary anyway, you are never required to respond to them in forms. Here's an idea, check the "other" box and put down American.

Answer 6

Hasian

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glossary_of_terms_for_multiraciality#Part_Asian

Answer 7

I believe the general tendency is to list the child as the race of the father.

If the form allows you to click/check 2 boxes (probably not) then do it that way.

Answer 8

i know its stupid when one parent is white and the other is black theyre just called black, but if your half asian its different some how....my neice is the same as your daughter and im pretty sure they just say asian. but i guess its your choice i dont think it really matters

why do they have those dumb forms anyway

Answer 9

I think you should check of asian...the only reason I say that is because...alot of times when doing census or studies they want to know exactly how many "minorities" are involved, which the numbers can effect how programs are funded, offered e.t.c.

Answer 10

My dad is asian and my mom is white and I always wondered the same thing. I mark both because I am both I'm not more of one then the other.