Unpacking East and Southeast Asian Immigrants Portrayed in Children's Picture Books: Centering on Their Racialized/Minoritized Experiences

• In Event: Exploring Children's Experiences Through Qualitative Methods

Abstract

This study examines how East and Southeast Asian immigrant children and their families were portrayed in children’s picturebooks, centering on their racialized and minoritized experiences. Our analysis was based on a sample of 62 picturebooks written in English and published in the U.S. between 1989 and 2021. The findings revealed that portrayals of experiences of East and Southeast immigrant children and their families have been focused on alienated or uncomfortable feelings, or confusion about their cultural identity. Moreover, deficit perspectives and Asian stereotypes were presented, including emphasis only on English proficiency, model minority, and perpetual foreigners. While immigrant children’s parents and grandparents supported them mostly in an affective domain, siblings, teachers, and peers did not provide much help.

Authors

• Su-Jeong Wee, California State University - Los Angeles

• Jinhee Kim, Kennesaw State University

• Vivian Yang, California State University - Los Angeles