SEXTANT: masculinities, sexualities & decolonialities

ABSTRACT

This study explores the dynamics of internalised oppression among mixed-race individuals of North African and/or Middle Eastern descent in predominantly white, Western societies. While existing literature addresses internalised oppression, a gap remains in understanding its impact on those navigating multiple racial and cultural identities. This research bridges that gap through an auto-ethnographic approach, presenting a reflective and analytical personal narrative. Central is the exploration of selective racialisation and covering–strategies mixed-race individuals use to navigate societal expectations and mitigate discrimination. These coping mechanisms are examined across settings such as school, family, and community, highlighting the fluid, context-dependent nature of racial identity. The study underscores the ambiguity of internalised oppression, framing it as dynamic and changeable, particularly through strength-based counter-narratives and cultural reconnection. Ultimately, it advocates for autoethnography as a tool in social justice research, urging future scholars to use it to deepen understanding of lived experiences of internalised oppression and encourage resilience and positive self-concepts through counter-narrative.

KEY WOrDS

internalised oppression, mixed-race identity, covering, Islamophobia, assimilation strategies, counter-narratives

Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.