“I’m like White People here”: Chinese International Doctoral Students’ Perception of Ethno-racial Issues in China (Poster 23)

• In Event: AERA Poster Session Sunday 8:00 a.m.
  In Poster Session: CERECG SIG Poster Session: Race, Ethnicity, and Gender Issues in Education

Abstract

While Chinese international students’ racialized experiences in the United States have garnered growing attention, few studies examined how such experiences may shape their perceptions of ethno-racial issues in their home country. This study forefronts the perspectives of twelve Chinese international doctoral students at a U.S. predominantly White, Mid-Western University, using Global Critical Race and Racism framework (Christian, 2019) and Intersectionality Theory (Crenshaw, 1989/2013). Findings indicated that: a) whiteness operates in non-White contexts such as China, mediated by historical, local, and global contexts and individuals’ identities; b) ethno-racial inequalities exist in China, a country claiming to be racially homogeneous; c) transnational experiences helped international students raise awareness of domestic ethno-racial inequalities. Implications are offered for stakeholders and future research.

Author

• Peiwen Wang, Southern Connecticut State University