Poster #24 - Asian American Young Adults’ Views on Social Inequality and Parents’ Messages about Social Inequality

• In Event: Poster Session 07

Abstract

Critical reflection (CR) is the initial cognitive process of becoming aware of systemic barriers for marginalized social groups, and further reflection on the oppressed conditions of these groups (Diemer et al., 2016). Little is known about Asian American young adults’ engagement in CR and how their CR guides meaning making of messages about social inequality given by others. There is a dearth of studies investigating how one’s engagement in critical reflection occurs within the family socialization process. Hence, it is noteworthy to study what messages Asian American parents provide their young adults about social inequality.

This study investigated 1) Asian American young adults' views on social inequality, 2) messages parents provided to young adults about social inequality, and 3) young adults' feelings and thoughts about these parental messages.

To date, virtual interviews (data collection is still ongoing) were conducted among 14 Asian American young adults (Mage= 20.43; SDage= 1.87) whose families immigrated from East Asia (China = 6; Taiwan = 2; South Korea = 2; Japan = 1; India = 1; Philippines = 1; Vietnam = 1). Sample consisted of 11 females, 1 male, 1 non-binary, and 1 transman (Heterosexual = 6; Bisexual = 3; Homosexual = 1; Other = 4). Participants were asked about their views on social inequality, family messages about social inequality, and their reflections on these family messages. A thematic analysis was conducted to examine what salient themes about the three research topics emerged from the interviews. The final presentation will provide the results of a thematic analysis of the full sample of 14 participants.

Based on preliminary analyses with 5 participants, four salient themes were found in young adults’ views on social inequality - 1) salience of race, class and immigrant status, 2) personal experiences guided their views, 3) reflection on metanarratives about Asian Americans, and 4) recognition that society is centered around serving White people. Parents’ messages could be distinguished as messages attributing individual reasoning to social inequality, and messages attributing structural reasoning to social inequality. Finally, young adults reflected on three perceptions about their overall thoughts and feelings about their parents' messages about social inequality - 1) parent's lack of acknowledgment of the marginalization of their communities, 2) realization that parents’ views can be flawed and biased, and 3) awareness of the negative consequence of embracing the meritocracy and the model-minority myth. An important finding was a change in young adults’ belief systems during the time of the Black Lives Matter movement during the summer of 2020 and how this cognitive shift influenced how they perceived their parents’ messages. Quotes reflecting each theme are presented in Table 1 and Table 2.

Examining only young adult reports of parents’ messages about social inequality is one noteworthy limitation. One practice implication of the study is the need to provide Asian American families more opportunities to engage in community work targeting systemic barriers hindering the Asian American community as a way actively involve parents and youth in doing community work.

Authors

• Seungmi Lee, Tufts University
  Presenting Author

• Ellen E. Pinderhughes, Tufts University