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Asian Americans’ Ethnic Identity Exploration and the Role of Ethnic Community in a Southern City in the United States

Author

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  • Suzie S. Weng

    (School of Social Work, California State University, Long Beach, CA 90032, USA)

  • Shinwoo Choi

    (School of Social Work, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX 78666, USA)

Abstract

This qualitative study explores Asian Americans’ ethnic identity concerning their process of exploring their own identity belonging and the impact of an ethnic community in a southern city in the United States. The South has mainly consisted of European Americans and African Americans. However, it has diversified to include an increasing number of Latinx and Asian Americans over the last several decades. Yet, the growing Asian American community remains disparate in its ethnic identity and nationality. Therefore, this study uses the phenomenological method to provide a more in-depth understanding of ethnic identity in an Asian American community within a southern region of the United States. Themes emerging from interviews included the need to bridge two worlds, the desire to be part of a community, and the existence of a two-layer community involving both ethnic and racial identity. This study contributes to a greater understanding of Asian Americans’ experiences in and adaptation to the Southern region within the United States. Implications for practice are provided for social workers when working alongside Asian American clients.

Suggested Citation

  • Suzie S. Weng & Shinwoo Choi, 2021. "Asian Americans’ Ethnic Identity Exploration and the Role of Ethnic Community in a Southern City in the United States," Societies, MDPI, vol. 11(3), pages 1-15, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsoctx:v:11:y:2021:i:3:p:109-:d:630917
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Michael Grillo & Miguel Teixeira & David Wilson, 2010. "Residential Satisfaction and Civic Engagement: Understanding the Causes of Community Participation," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 97(3), pages 451-466, July.
    2. Beiser, Morton & Turner, R.Jay & Ganesan, Soma, 1989. "Catastrophic stress and factors affecting its consequences among Southeast Asian refugees," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 28(3), pages 183-195, January.
    3. Fan Lu, 2020. "The Dual Identity of Asian Americans," Social Science Quarterly, Southwestern Social Science Association, vol. 101(5), pages 1869-1884, September.
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    Cited by:

    1. Jennifer Creese, 2022. "“How Do I See Myself? It’s Complicated”: Qualitatively Eliciting, Analyzing and Understanding Individuals’ Self-Attitudes towards Identity in an Australian Jewish Community," Societies, MDPI, vol. 12(5), pages 1-16, September.

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