A qualitative exploration of the process of relationship formation between mother and child in interracial families.

Abstract Objective: To identify whether racial differences between mother and child in interracial families produce a perceived lack of resemblance, and whether this affects the claiming and relationship formation processes. Design: Data was collected through semi structured interviews and analysed using thematic analysis. Participants: Nine white European women, in an interracial relationship with at least one child under the age of four. Results: Four themes were generated: 1) anticipated lack of resemblance 2) the reality of having a mixed-race baby 3) challenges faced by the family 4) creating a multifaceted identity. Conclusions: The women anticipated a lack of resemblance between themselves and their baby. This could have served to affect the claiming and relationship formation processes. However, the women actively searched for similarities between themselves and their baby which aided the claiming process. This, in combination with other factors, helped the women begin to form a relationship with their baby. Keywords: Interracial families, claiming, relationship formation, physical similarities, multifaceted identit