Struggle for Ethnic Identity: Narratives by Asian American Professionals [Paperback]

Struggle for Ethnic Identity is a welcome and valuable resource that brings out the human dimensions of the Asian American experience that are too often obscured by homogenizing stereotypes.Few empirical studies had been done on Asian Americans in terms of personal experiences, cultural and ethnic identity, social status and economic conditions in the mainstream white society before this collection of 15 autobiographical essays....The most significant value of this collection is that it brings to light several common issues: racial prejudice and discrimination, interest in and criticism of ethnic subcultures, assimilation, and the search for one's ethnic identity.Dr. Pyong Gap Min and Rose Kim present a compilation of narratives on ethnic identity written by first-, 1.5-, and second-generation Asian American professionals. In an attempt to reconcile the dichotomies long associated with being both Asian and American, these narratives trace the formation of each author's ethnic identity and discuss its importance in shaping his or her professional career. The narratives touch upon common themes of prejudice and discrimination, loss and retention of ethnic subculture, ethnic versus non-ethnic friendship networks, and racial and inter-racial dating patterns. When coupled with Dr. Min's comprehensive introductory chapter on contemporary trends in the study of ethnicity, these narratives prove that constructing one's ethnicity is truly a dynamic process and serve as an invaluable resource for anyone interested in teaching or studying the concepts of ethnic identity.chapter 1 Acknowledgments chapter 2 Introduction Part 3 I. Pyong Gap Min: Ethnicity: Concepts, Theories, and Trends Part 4 II. Ethnic Culture: An Identity in Conflict chapter 5 Rose Kim, My Trek chapter 6 Ruth Chung, Reflections on A Korean American Journey chapter 7 Alex Jeong, A Handicapped Korean in America Part 8 III. Building Coalitions: A Pan-Asian or Non-White Identity? chapter 9 Kavitha Mediratta, How Dl³’