Not All the Same: Racialization of Southeast and East Asian Americans

• In Event: 1552 - Section on Asia and Asian America Roundtable Session
  In Refereed Roundtable (60 min): Table 7: Identity, Racialization, and Subjectivity

Abstract

Asian Americans have incorporated in different ways because of their various paths to the U.S. East Asians such as Chinese and Japanese have been in the U.S. longer and also have a stronger network to help with incorporation. Many Southeast Asians came to the U.S. as refugees from the Vietnam War, many without an education and connections within the states. While Southeast Asians may be racialized similarly to East Asians, there are also discrepancies. However, these differences have not been thoroughly examined because of the lack of disaggregated data. In this study, we use the 2016 post-election National Asian American Survey to examine the differences or similarities in racialization between Southeast Asians and East Asians. We find that Southeast Asians are less likely assumed by others to be good at math and science. Educational attainment does influence respondents’ experiences with people assuming they are good at math and science or not for both groups. Having more and higher education increases the likelihood that people assume they are good at math and science. However, Southeast Asians are more likely to be encouraged to continue their education by a teacher or advisor.

Authors

• Houa Vang, UC Merced

• Chia Xiong, University of California, Merced