Date of Conferral

2022

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Psychology

Advisor

Steven Linnville

Abstract

A limited amount of research addresses the challenges single, White, birth mothers of Black-White biracial children have experienced with racialized identity within their kinships and social networks. In this transcendental, descriptive, phenomenological study, the lived experiences of eight single, White, birth mothers of Black-White biracial children were investigated to address that research gap. The conceptual framework was Helms’s Black and White racial identity theory. After thematic analysis of semistructured interview data, five themes emerged to describe the experiences of the single, White, birth mothers of Black-White biracial children: (a) the mother’s insight, (b) racism, (c) attitude about a Black partner, (d) perception of biracial children, and (e) the support system. The findings revealed that regardless of the attitudes of family members and friends (i.e., kinships and social networks) and lack of child-rearing participation of the child’s father, these single, White, birth mothers of Black-White biracial children benefited from the support of friends, the family of their children’s father, and a strong community. In the absence of acceptance by family, the support of friends and community was invaluable for the mothers and their biracial children. The findings of this study may contribute to positive social change by helping counselors provide better multicultural counseling and therapy to single, White mothers of Black-White biracial children. Individuals of other races need to understand the lived experience of these single, White women with Black-White biracial children to help prevent racism and related challenges as well as promote the well-being of these mothers.

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