Before Rachel Dolezal got us all talking about racial identity, some associations had been speaking out on how people identify their ethnicity for years. Here are three, with a look at their recent work on the topic.

Population Association of America

Mission: Nonprofit, scientific, professional organization that promotes the improvement, advancement and progress of the human race through research.

Members: 3,000—demographers, sociologists, economists and public health professionals. 

Weighing in on racial identity: The association released a study, co-authored by sociologist Carolyn Liebler (above) last year that showed millions of Americans in the 2000 Census changed their race or Hispanic-origin categories when they filled out their forms. Hispanics, Americans of mixed race, American Indians and Pacific Islanders were the most likely to check different boxes from one Census to the next.

American Sociological Association

Mission: Nonprofit membership organization working on advancing sociology as a scientific discipline and profession.

Members: Over 13,000—college and university faculty, researchers, students and practitioners, including those working in government, business and nonprofits. 

Weighing in on racial identity: ASA’s Sociology of Race and Ethnicity journal published a paper last year that explored whether someone who changed their racial identity suffered emotional distress and internal turmoil. The paper actually argues that racial inconsistency is more common than previously believed and that it could be positive for some people.

American Psychological Association

Mission: Scientific and professional organization representing psychology in the US.

Members: Over 122,500 researchers, educators, clinicians, consultants and students. 

Weighing in on racial identity: APA published a book, co-authored by Arizona State University professors Carlos Santos (above) and Adriana Umaña-Taylor, earlier this year on how ethnic identity is formed and maintained throughout someone’s lifespan.