Disaggregating Asian American Communities: Exploring the Cultural and Structural Co-Ethnic Model

• In Event: Moscone Center North Roundtable Session 1
  In Roundtable Session: From the Margins to the Center: Critical Encounters With Race Across Disciplines and Communities

Abstract

This paper proposes a new theoretical framework and uses a substantive literature review and census data to compare cultural, structural, and co-ethnic community characteristics and educational outcomes of 11 Asian American groups. The theoretical model helps explain how cultural and structural factors of an ethnic group upon immigration shape its co-ethnic community development (strong, weak, or dispersed), and subsequently influence their later group outcomes (i.e., academic achievement). The paper examines similarities and differences in these characteristics between East, South, and Southeast Asian communities, as well as between higher- and lower-achieving Asian American groups. It debunks the model minority myth and brings forward information to educators, researchers and policymakers on the needs of each of the 11 Asian ethnic groups.

Authors

• Lorine Erika Saito, National University

• Zaynah Rahman, Claremont Graduate University

• Stacy Kula, Azusa Pacific University

• Matthew A. Witenstein, University of Dayton

• Susan J. Paik, Claremont Graduate University