Exploring South Asian Experiences in North America: Negotiating Multiple Identities Across Educational Spaces

Session Submission Type: Symposium

Abstract

This session examines how multiple identities are negotiated by South Asian students, parents, and educators across educational spaces in North America. It also addresses ways in which these negotiated identities are acted upon by school systems. Papers in this session explore how content taught in classrooms, decisions made by school systems, and parental engagement in education influence the ways South Asian students, parents, and educators negotiate their identities and participate in educational spaces. These qualitative studies across various South Asian communities, North American cities, and migration periods illustrate the diverse experience within the South Asian community while drawing upon commonalities to seek and create modes of support to address educational concerns.

Sub Unit

• SIG-Research on the Education of Asian and Pacific Americans

Chair

• Margaret A. Gibson, University of California - Santa Cruz

Papers

• Dialogues in the Diaspora: Muslim Bangladeshi American Women’s Responses to South Asian Diaspora Literature - Uzma Akhand Hossain, Teachers College, Columbia University

• School Leaders’ Cultural Responsiveness to Sikh Students and Families in Ontario Schools - Harpreet Kaur Neelam, University of Toronto - OISE

• Exploring Hybrid Identities: South Asian American Women Pursue a Career in Teaching - Amita Roy Shah, Teachers College, Columbia University

• Immigrant Punjabi Sikh Mothers’ Engagement in Their Children’s Schooling - Ravneet Kaur Tiwana, First 5 Santa Clara County

Discussants

• Nina Asher, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

• Kathleen D. Hall, University of Pennsylvania