Exploring the Perceptions of Microaggressions of Asian International Students in U.S. Higher Education Institutions

• In Event: Structural and Individual Dimensions of College Experiences

Abstract

Institutions have reported nation-wide declines in international student applications and enrollment. Reasons for decreased matriculation have been linked to unpleasant experiences in academic institutions. Scholarship suggests that Asian international students, in particular, experience discrimination. Their lived experiences have not been explored thoroughly. Most of the literature embodies the assumption that international students bear the responsibility for overcoming their own discomfort. Few studies consider external factors, such as discrimination and unwelcoming campus climates, which contribute to the attrition of international students. Using the racial microagression model, this literature review clearly demonstrates that race/ethnicity, racial stereotypes, institutional racism, and political ideology cause discrimination/racial microaggression toward Asian international students.

Author

• Yi Zhou, University of California - Riverside