The Research and Data Imperative for Southeast Asian American Male Students in Higher Education

• In Event: The COVID-19 Pandemic: Implications for Male Students of Color in Higher Education

Abstract

The higher education research literature on Asian American ethnic subgroups, particularly the Southeast Asian American (SEAA) communities, remains sparse (Maramba & Palmer, 2015; Xiong, 2019). Despite unfavorable degree-attainment data trends for SEAA populations like Cambodian, Hmong, and Laotian students (de Brey et al., 2019) and a gender gap between SEAA men and women (College Board, 2010; Keo & Noguera, 2018), little is known about these populations of students and as a result, they remain underserved in higher education spaces. Scholars such as Poon et al. (2016) and Museus and Truong (2009) problematize the use of Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) and the model minority myth (MMM) because they undermine the critical need for disaggregated data and nuanced understands of Asian American subgroups. The term, AAPI, is problematic because it conflates two different racial groups and overlooks ethnic nuances within various communities and it also hides the growing inequities within the ethnic communities (CARE, 2013). Furthermore, the MMM is problematic because it positions all Asian students as a model minority based on their cumulative high enrollment and degree-attainment rates (Museus & Truong, 2009). Moreover, the MMM is harmful to communities of color because it is an “insidious racial device used to uphold a global system of racial hierarchies and White supremacy” (Poon et al., 2016, p. 474).

SEAA men remain relatively invisible in the literature, particularly in the literature on men of color (Keo & Noguera, 2018), and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has only exacerbated existing inequities. In addition to transitioning to online course work, increased financial constraints, amongst other issues brought forth by the pandemic, hate crimes against Asian Americans have increased exponentially with over 1,000 separate incidents of anti-Asian racism between January 2020 to December 2020 (Virulent Hate Project, 2021). It is imperative for higher education stakeholders to direct their attention and resources to support SEAA men.

For these reasons, this paper will focus on SEAA men in higher education to bring more awareness to this population of students. Through a systematic review of the literature and data, this paper will highlight important considerations to understand the cultural nuances needed to better support SEAA men. Recommendations for research and practice will also be included. SEAA men are challenged with a myriad of barriers, including their physical safety due to the rise in anti-Asian sentiment related to the pandemic, that challenge their persistence; institutional leaders need to prioritize their SEAA men as institutions transition back to in-person instruction.

Authors

• Soua Xiong, California State University, Fresno

• Jase Kugiya, The University of Texas-Austin