The Multi-Ethnic Paradox: Towards a Fluid Notion of Being 'Haafu'
Tim Greer, Kobe University, Japan
Whether the label is ‘haafu’ (half) or ‘daburu’ (double), the portrayal of multi-ethnic identity in Japanese contexts is steeped in duality. While recognizing the inevitability of such binary connotations, this paper aims to reconceptualize notions of being haafu as a fluid, adaptable and accomplished form of multi-ethnic identity. Based on focus group discussions with twelve multi-ethnic Japanese teenagers, the qualitative analysis depicts the multi-ethnic paradox not in terms of two distinct oppositions, but as co-existent, dynamic facets of an individual’s complete view of self. Several ways in which multi-ethnic Japanese experience “discursive positioning” (Harre & van Langenhove, 1999) emerged from the discussions, including being simultaneously viewed as privileged and marginalized, and being ethnified as Japanese or non-Japanese or as a cultural expert or a novice.
