混血兒常常必須經歷身份定位的摸索、選擇身份的掙扎，及後來接受自己有與身俱來的多重身份。他們不只屬於單一族群，他們對於族群的自我意識經常超越單一的族群背景。在童年時，他們往往會發現自己與同儕之間膚色的不同，因而可能遭受欺負。當他們漸漸成長，愈發瞭解自己有著特殊種族身份，於是冒著迷失的風險，在尋求自我種族身份定位時，不斷地問自己是誰。本文依據科爾文(Kerwin)和(彭德拉多)Ponterotto、波斯頓(Poston)以及(魯特)Root的混血兒身份定位發展模型(biracial individuals’ identity development)，試圖說明“白種人”中主角在面對不同種族時所遭遇的困難。當面臨著種族差異時，如何發展自己的身份定位。第一章首先探討了與種族問題相關的議題。第二章則指出，身為混血兒的家長，如何影響他們的孩子對於種族歧視和種族主義的觀念。在定位混血兒的種族身份問題上，家庭起著至關重要的作用。第三章著重於本文主角的自我身分認同。當她必須隱藏自己的黑人身分，而被迫選擇假扮為一個猶太人女孩時，變身策略(passing)讓她領悟到她的種族身份危機。在這期間，對於自我身份的尋找、實現，並最終欣然接受她的雙重種族身份的事實。第四章旨在分析另一女主角的自我身份定位。從最初的拒絕，到最終擁抱她的雙重種族身份。最後，我們可以瞭解到：混血兒經驗的多樣性以及複雜性可以進一步挑戰種族原本在一個社會的概念。從更靈活的後種族(postethnicity)觀點出發，種族身份是從行為表現來認定，而非與生俱來。

Biracial individuals, also called hybrids, frequently must go through a search for identity, a struggle to choose an identity and finally to accept their inherent multiplicity. They identify with more than one racial group and their sense of self remains constant across racial contexts. In childhood, they often find their appearance different from other children and may be bullied by peers of a different skin color. As they age, biracial individuals grow more aware of their racial heritage, and run the risk of falling into the borderlines of identities and have to keep asking themselves who they are. Drawing upon models from Kerwin and Ponterotto and Poston, as well as Root’s theory of biracial individuals’ identity development, this thesis attempts to demonstrate how the protagonists (Birdie and Cole) in Caucasia develop their identity when they face racial differences. Chapter one initiates a general introduction that explores the related discourse on hybridity and its interconnection with racial issues. The second chapter points out how parents influence their biracial children’s attitudes towards racism and racial essentialism, with a focus on how family plays an essential role in shaping a biracial individual’s racial identity. The third chapter explicates the protagonist’s self-consciousness about her invisibility when encountering an identity crisis while passing for Jewish. Her search for identity, her realization, and eventually embrace of her both-and identity is included. The fourth chapter aims to analyze Cole’s identity as it shifts from initially rejecting to eventually embracing her racial identity. Finally, the thesis concludes with a discussion of how the significance, diversity, and complexity of biracial individuals’ experience may challenge the social construct of race. Based on a more flexible post-ethnic perspective, race is more performative than biological.

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