Struggle for Ethnic Identity

Narratives by Asian American Professionals

By (author) Pyong Gap Min Edited by Rose Kim

Publication date:

20 January 1999

Length of book:

240 pages

Publisher

AltaMira Press

ISBN-13: 9780761990666

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 Do You Say Your Name?
chapter 10 David Wang, Beyond the Golden Door
chapter 11 Phuong Do, A Girl Called Hoai
Part 12 IV. Living in Two Worlds: A Bicultural Identity
chapter 13 Sayuri Mori, Finding Myself
chapter 14 Monica Jahan Bose, Multiple Identities
chapter 15 Shay Sheth, An Indian Boy in American Clothes
Part 16 V. Blending In: Weak Attachments to the Ethnic Group
chapter 17 Eriberto P. Lozada Jr., What Being Filipino American Means to Someone Called Fuji
chapter 18 Joel de la Fuente, An (Asian American) Actor's Life
chapter 19 Jean Hotta, My Own "Family"
chapter 20 VI. A New World: The First Generation Experience
chapter 21 Lakshmi Malroutu, The Balancing Act
chapter 22 Margaret Y.M. Kan, Reaching the Glass Ceiling...at Home
chapter 23 Hoang Diem Hau, An Unwilling Refugee
chapter 24 Conclusion
chapter 25 Bibliography

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.