Passing

Passing is a sociological concept describing when a person is perceived as belonging to a social category different from the one they are assigned or identify with, such as race, gender, sexuality, class, religion, age, or disability status.

Passing is a sociological concept where a person is perceived as belonging to a different social category than their own. It is most often discussed in the context of racial passing and has been explored in literature and film.

What it is

In sociology, passing refers to being read by others as a member of a group other than one’s own. This can apply to race, gender, sexuality, class, religion, age, or disability. The term is used to describe the social perception that someone belongs to a different identity category than the one they are assigned or identify with.

Racial passing

Racial passing usually means a person classified as one race is perceived and accepted as another, most often referring to Black or multiracial people in the United States being treated as white. Historically, this was tied to avoiding discrimination and the legal or social restrictions of segregation.

Passing in culture

The concept is the title of a 1929 novel by Nella Larsen that explores race, class, and identity through two childhood friends. A 2021 film adaptation directed by Rebecca Hall stars Tessa Thompson and focuses on racial identity, colorism, and social pressures.