DOCSLIB.ORG

A COMMUNITY of CONTRASTS Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders in the San Gabriel Valley

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
A COMMUNITY of CONTRASTS Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders in the San Gabriel Valley 2018 A COMMUNITY OF CONTRASTS Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders in the San Gabriel Valley SAN GABRIEL VALLEY CONTENTS INTRODUCTION Introduction . 1 The SGV . disaggregated by ethnic group . Recognizing sig- Executive Summary . 2 nificant social and economic diversity among Asian The 626 . Map . 4 Americans, it includes data on immigration, lan- guage, education, income, housing, health, and Demographics . 5 The Asian American community in the San Gabriel Valley is one of the most iconic in the United States . environmental justice for eight ethnic groups . Economic Contributions . 8 Located in Los Angeles County just south of the Second, this report makes the data accessible to com- Civic Engagement . 9 San Gabriel Mountains, the region is home to over munity organizations, community members, policy Immigration . 10 half a million Asian Americans, more than in makers, foundations, businesses, and others look- Language . 11 Los Angeles, San Francisco, or Chicago . It is known ing to better understand and serve Asian American Education . 14 for its vibrant Chinese American community and, of communities . By soliciting feedback on content from Income . 15 course, its food . key stakeholders, consolidating important data from disparate government and academic sources, Employment . 16 Yet both the history and current reality of the and presenting them in a way that is easy to digest, Housing . 18 San Gabriel Valley challenge this simplistic view, the report makes a valuable contribution to our Health . 19 drawing attention to its diversity and ongoing understanding of one of the largest Asian American Environmental Justice . 20 struggles for racial justice . communities in the country . Policy Recommendations . 21 Perhaps its most recognizable landmark, the We would like to thank the sponsors who made this Resources . 23 San Gabriel Mission stands in testament to the colo- report possible, including Bank of America, AARP, Glossary . 24 nization of the region’s indigenous Tongva people . and the Wallace H . Coulter Foundation . Appendices . 25 The valley’s subsequent agricultural history fostered We would also like to thank everyone who con- Notes . 28 the growth of large Mexican American communities that now make up nearly half of the San Gabriel tributed to this report, including Asian Americans Technical Notes . 29 Valley’s total population . After the elimination of Advancing Justice – Los Angeles staff Jeffer Giang, discriminatory federal immigration policies in 1965, Daniel Ichinose, Joanna Lee, Shelly Chen, Povi-Tamu the region’s Asian American population grew dra- Bryant, Kimberly Wu, Natalie Bui, Deanna Kitamura, matically and faced considerable backlash from Anthony Ng, Li’i Furumoto, Nikki Dominguez, Nicole residents . Monterey Park, recognized as the first Ochi, and Heng Foong, as well as the community majority Asian American city in the continental partners, community members, policy makers, and United States following the 1990 Census, required corporate leaders who contributed to and provided business signs to include English and attempted to critical feedback on its content . Community part- establish English as its official language . ners included API Forward Movement, Asian Pacific Health Care Venture, Asian Youth Center, California Today, the region hosts considerable social and Healthy Nail Salon Collaborative, East San Gabriel Founded in 1983 as the Asian Pacific American Advancing Justice – LA is based in downtown economic diversity . It is home to some of the highest Valley Japanese Community Center, Pilipino Workers Legal Center, Asian Americans Advancing Justice – Los Angeles, with offices in Orange County and poverty rates among Asian Americans countywide . Center, Restaurant Opportunities Center of Los Los Angeles (Advancing Justice – LA) is the nation’s Sacramento as well as a community center in the There are large Filipino and Vietnamese American Angeles, and the Wilderness Society . Policy makers largest legal and civil rights organization for Asian San Gabriel Valley . Visit advancingjustice-la .org . populations, and Alhambra is home to the largest included Anthony Duarte, Mike Eng, Henry Lo, Jason Americans and Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders number of Burmese Americans countywide outside Our affiliates include Asian Americans Advancing Pu, and Calvin Sung . Finally, Stephanie Lomibao, (NHPI) . Through direct services, impact litigation, the city of Los Angeles . Yet this diversity often goes Justice – AAJC (Washington, DC), Asian Americans Gilbert Tong, Vinh Ngo, and Millie Yamaki from Bank policy advocacy, leadership development, and capac- unrecognized . As a result, community needs go Advancing Justice – Asian Law Caucus (San Francisco), of America provided additional guidance from a ity building, Advancing Justice – LA focuses on the unmet . A Community of Contrasts: Asian Americans, Asian Americans Advancing Justice – Atlanta, and business perspective . most vulnerable members of Asian American and Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders in the Asian Americans Advancing Justice – Chicago . NHPI communities while also building a strong voice San Gabriel Valley attempts to address that . for civil rights and social justice . This report does two things . First, it provides key The statements and views expressed in this report are solely the All photos were taken by M. Jamie Watson unless otherwise noted. Data design and layout were provided by SunDried Penguin. characteristics of Asian American communities responsibility of the authors. Please email any questions regarding the report to [email protected]. INTRODUCTION A Community of Contrasts: SAN GABRIEL VALLEY 1 Educational outcomes vary greatly among Asian As housing costs in the San Gabriel Valley increase EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Americans and NHPI. dramatically, more affordable housing is needed. Chinese American adults in the San Gabriel Valley are Average rental rates in the region increased 4 .9% less likely than Whites to hold both high school and between the fourth quarters of 2015 and 2016, Over half a million Asian Americans and 7,000 While Asian Americans and NHPI are becoming college degrees; Vietnamese American adults have and vacancy rates were at 2 .7% at the end of 2016 . Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders (NHPI) live citizens, registering to vote, and casting ballots, some of the lowest educational attainment among Nearly 69,000 Asian Americans in the San Gabriel in the San Gabriel Valley: its Asian American popu- coalition building with Latino communities around Asian American ethnic groups . Over 14,300 English Valley are housing-cost burdened, spending 30% or lation alone is larger than it is in 42 states and the issues of mutual concern remains important. language learner students in the region’s K–12 public more of their household income on housing costs . cities of Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Chicago . During the 2016 presidential election, Asian American schools speak an Asian or Pacific Island language . More affordable housing would mitigate vulnerable A Community of Contrasts: Asian Americans, Native voter registration exceeded the margin of victory Despite prevailing stereotypes about Asian American groups’ continuing struggle with rising housing costs . Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders in the San Gabriel in United States Congressional Districts 27 and 39, success in education, disparities risk being overlooked Valley provides community organizations, policy California State Senate District 29, and California when disaggregated data are not collected . The While Asian Americans and NHPI in the San Gabriel makers, foundations, businesses, and others with State Assembly Districts 49 and 55 . Yet Asian growing number of immigrant students and parents Valley are disproportionately impacted by disease, essential data on these diverse communities . Americans and NHPI remain minorities in most legis- require more culturally and linguistically appropriate many lack access to health insurance and culturally Highlights include the following: lative districts in the San Gabriel Valley and benefit curricula, programs, and parent engagement . and linguistically appropriate care. from coalition building around immigrant rights Asian Americans are more likely to die of cancer The San Gabriel Valley’s large Asian American popu- issues . More culturally and linguistically tailored Nearly a third of Asian Americans in the San Gabriel than any other racial group in the San Gabriel Valley; lation continues to grow. naturalization, voter registration, and get-out-the- Valley are low-income. influenza is the third leading cause of death among The region’s total population grew only 2% between vote efforts would help increase civic engagement Over 66,700 Asian Americans in the San Gabriel Chinese Americans . Yet one in five Asian Americans 2000 and 2010 . In contrast, its Asian American popu- among communities of color in the region . Valley are living in poverty, including 15% of Asian in the region do not have a usual source of care lation grew 22%, significantly faster than any other American seniors and 17% of Vietnamese Americans . when sick or requiring health advice . Culturally and racial group . Among Asian American and NHPI ethnic The Asian American population in the region is Despite model-minority myths that characterize linguistically appropriate care would improve health groups, South Asians are among the region’s fastest overwhelmingly immigrant, including an estimated
Load more

Recommended publications
  • September 20, 2013 Vol
    A unique experience Pilgrimage to Jasper, Ferdinand to highlight German Christmas traditions, page 7. Serving the Church in Central and Southern Indiana Since 1960 CriterionOnline.com September 20, 2013 Vol. LIII, No. 49 75¢ ‘Terrible loss of life’ at Natalie Hoefer Photo by Navy Yard Sharing the Jesus in them shocking and sad, says archbishop WASHINGTON (CNS)—As military, police and federal investigators searched for answers as to why a lone gunman opened fire on Sept. 16 at the Washington Navy Yard, killing 12 people and wounding at least eight more, religious leaders and public officials offered prayers for the victims and their families. Washington Cardinal Donald W. Wuerl and Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, who heads the Washington-based Archdiocese for the Military Services, both issued brief statements offering prayers for the victims and their families. The shooter was identified as Aaron Alexis, 34, Members of the Congolese Catholic Choir in the U.S. sing a song of praise during the Mass held at St. Bernadette Church in Indianapolis during the third who became the annual convention of the National Association of African Catholics in the U.S. on Sept. 7. 13th victim when Cardinal he died in a gun Donald W. Wuerl battle with police Contagious spirit spreads at National Association at the naval office building in the of African Catholics conference in Indianapolis nation’s capital. At first, law enforcement By Natalie Hoefer in Indianapolis as the city hosted native of Nigeria. authorities thought the third annual conference of the More than 200 African-born Catholics there was a Dressed in colorful traditional attire, National Association of African Catholics from around the U.S.
    [Show full text]
  • Syrian Refugees in the American South a Case Study of Refugees in Towns Austin, Texas, USA
    Syrian Refugees in the American South A Case Study of Refugees in Towns Austin, Texas, USA May Mzayek Austin, Texas, USA / A Case Study of Refugees in Towns 1 JUNE 2018 Contents About the RIT Project 3 Location 4 Introduction 5 About the Author and How She Wrote the Report 5 Methodology 5 A Note on Terminology 6 Background on Refugees in the United States 7 Background on Refugees in Austin, Texas 9 Mapping the Refugee Population 9 The Urban Impact 10 Economic Integration 10 Social & Cultural Integration 10 Refugee Experiences in Austin 11 Health care 11 Psychological Issues 12 Financial Challenges 12 Culture and Language 13 Green Cards 14 Hope in their Children 14 Conclusion 15 References 15 Austin, Texas, USA / A Case Study of Refugees in Towns 2 About the RIT Project The Refugees in Towns (RIT) project promotes understanding of the migrant/refugee experience in urban settings. Our goal is to understand and promote refugee integration by drawing on the knowledge and perspective of refugees and locals to develop deeper understanding of the towns in which they live. The project was conceived and is led by Karen Jacobsen. It is based at the Feinstein International Center at Tufts University and funded by the Henry J. Leir Foundation. Our goals are twofold Our first long-term goal is to build a theory of integration form the ground up by compiling a global database of case studies and reports to help us analyze and understand the process of immigrant/refugee integration. These cases provide a range of local insights about the many different factors that enable or obstruct integration, and the ways in which migrants and hosts co-exist, adapt, and struggle in urban spaces.
    [Show full text]
  • Asian-American Characters in Black Films and Black Activism
    GET OUT, HIROKI TANAKA: ASIAN-AMERICAN CHARACTERS IN BLACK FILMS AND BLACK ACTIVISM by Naomi Yoko Ward Capstone submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for graduation with UNIVERSITY HONORS with a major in Communication Studies in the Department of Language, Philosophy, and Communication Studies Approved: Capstone Mentor Departmental Honors Advisor Dr. Jennifer Peeples Dr. Debra E. Monson ____________________________________ University Honors Program Director Dr. Kristine Miller UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY Logan, UT Spring 2020 1 Get Out, Hiroki Tanaka: Asian-Americans in Black Stories and Black Activism Naomi Yoko Ward Utah State University 2 Abstract The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship Asian-Americans have with black Americans in order to determine how Asian Americans navigate their role in American racial discourse. Additionally, this study considers the causes and effects of Asian-American participation in movements like Black Lives Matter (BLM). This topic is explored through the analysis of Asian-American characters in black stories told through four films: Fruitvale Station, Get Out, The Hate U Give, and Sorry to Bother You. To ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ narrow the scope of this research, I placed focus on characters in works that have been published since 2013, when the Black Lives Matter movement was officially formed and founded. Media functions both as a reflection of the society it is made in as well as an influence on how society perceives the world. The pervasiveness and power that media has in the world, particularly concerning social issues and social justice, makes this lens appropriate for studying race relations in the United States over the past several years.
    [Show full text]
  • Hispanic Texans
    texas historical commission Hispanic texans Journey from e mpire to Democracy a GuiDe for h eritaGe travelers Hispanic, spanisH, spanisH american, mexican, mexican american, mexicano, Latino, Chicano, tejano— all have been valid terms for Texans who traced their roots to the Iberian Peninsula or Mexico. In the last 50 years, cultural identity has become even more complicated. The arrival of Cubans in the early 1960s, Puerto Ricans in the 1970s, and Central Americans in the 1980s has made for increasing diversity of the state’s Hispanic, or Latino, population. However, the Mexican branch of the Hispanic family, combining Native, European, and African elements, has left the deepest imprint on the Lone Star State. The state’s name—pronounced Tay-hahs in Spanish— derives from the old Spanish spelling of a Caddo word for friend. Since the state was named Tejas by the Spaniards, it’s not surprising that many of its most important geographic features and locations also have Spanish names. Major Texas waterways from the Sabine River to the Rio Grande were named, or renamed, by Spanish explorers and Franciscan missionaries. Although the story of Texas stretches back millennia into prehistory, its history begins with the arrival of Spanish in the last 50 years, conquistadors in the early 16th cultural identity century. Cabeza de Vaca and his has become even companions in the 1520s and more complicated. 1530s were followed by the expeditions of Coronado and De Soto in the early 1540s. In 1598, Juan de Oñate, on his way to conquer the Pueblo Indians of New Mexico, crossed the Rio Grande in the El Paso area.
    [Show full text]
  • A Community of Contrasts: Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians And
    2015 A COMMUNITY OF CONTRASTS Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders in the West ARIZONA HAWAI‘I LAS VEGAS OREGON SEATTLE CONTENTS Welcome 1 OREGON 46 Introduction 2 Demographics 47 Executive Summary Economic Contributions3 49 Civic Engagement 50 WEST REGION Immigration 5 51 Demographics 6 Language 52 ARIZONA 10 Education 53 Demographics 11 Income 54 Economic Contributions 13 Employment 55 Civic Engagement 14 Housing 56 Immigration 15 Health 57 Language 16 SEATTLE METRO AREA 58 Education 17 Demographics 59 Income 18 Economic Contributions 61 Employment 19 Civic Engagement 62 Housing 20 Immigration 63 Health 21 Language 64 HAWAI‘I 22 Education 65 Demographics 23 Income 66 Economic Contributions 25 Employment 67 Civic Engagement 26 Housing 68 Immigration 27 Health 69 Language 28 Policy Recommendations 70 Education 29 Glossary 73 Income 30 Appendix A: Population, Population Growth 74 Employment 31 Appendix B: Selected Population Characteristics 80 Housing 32 Technical Notes 85 Health 33 LAS VEGAS 34 METRO AREA Demographics 35 Economic Contributions 37 Civic Engagement 38 Immigration 39 Asian Americans Advancing Justice Language 40 Asian Americans Advancing Justice is a national affiliation of five leading organizations advocating for the civil and Education 41 human rights of Asian Americans and other underserved Income 42 communities to promote a fair and equitable society for all. Employment 43 Housing 44 Advancing Justice | AAJC (Washington, DC) Health 45 Advancing Justice | Asian Law Caucus (San Francisco) Advancing Justice | Atlanta Advancing Justice | Chicago Advancing Justice | Los Angeles All photos in this report were taken by M. Jamie Watson unless otherwise noted. Data design and layout were provided by GRAPHEK.
    [Show full text]
  • The Experience of Burmese Refugees in US Higher Education
    Taylor University Pillars at Taylor University Master of Arts in Higher Education Thesis Collection 2017 Purpose and Resilience: The Experience of Burmese Refugees in U.S. Higher Education Rebecca Tervo Taylor University Follow this and additional works at: https://pillars.taylor.edu/mahe Part of the Higher Education Commons Recommended Citation Tervo, Rebecca, "Purpose and Resilience: The Experience of Burmese Refugees in U.S. Higher Education" (2017). Master of Arts in Higher Education Thesis Collection. 85. https://pillars.taylor.edu/mahe/85 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by Pillars at Taylor University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Master of Arts in Higher Education Thesis Collection by an authorized administrator of Pillars at Taylor University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. PURPOSE AND RESILIENCE: THE EXPERIENCE OF BURMESE REFUGEES IN U.S. HIGHER EDUCATION _______________________ A thesis Presented to The School of Social Sciences, Education & Business Department of Higher Education and Student Development Taylor University Upland, Indiana ______________________ In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Arts in Higher Education and Student Development _______________________ by Rebecca Tervo May 2017 © Rebecca Tervo 2017 Higher Education and Student Development Taylor University Upland, Indiana CERTIFICATE OF APPROVAL _________________________ MASTER’S THESIS _________________________ This is to certify that the Thesis of Rebecca Tervo entitled Purpose and Resilience: The Experience of Burmese Refugees in U.S. Higher Education has been approved by the Examining Committee for the thesis requirement for the Master of Arts degree in Higher Education and Student Development May 2017 __________________________ _____________________________ Scott Gaier, Ph.D.
    [Show full text]
  • Current and Future Worldwide Threats to the National Security of the United States
    S. HRG. 111–254 CURRENT AND FUTURE WORLDWIDE THREATS TO THE NATIONAL SECURITY OF THE UNITED STATES HEARING BEFORE THE COMMITTEE ON ARMED SERVICES UNITED STATES SENATE ONE HUNDRED ELEVENTH CONGRESS FIRST SESSION MARCH 10, 2009 Printed for the use of the Committee on Armed Services ( U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 54–639 PDF WASHINGTON : 2010 For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office Internet: bookstore.gpo.gov Phone: toll free (866) 512–1800; DC area (202) 512–1800 Fax: (202) 512–2104 Mail: Stop IDCC, Washington, DC 20402–0001 VerDate Nov 24 2008 10:28 Jan 29, 2010 Jkt 000000 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 5011 Sfmt 5011 Y:\BORAWSKI\DOCS\54639.TXT JUNE PsN: JUNEB COMMITTEE ON ARMED SERVICES CARL LEVIN, Michigan, Chairman EDWARD M. KENNEDY, Massachusetts JOHN MCCAIN, Arizona ROBERT C. BYRD, West Virginia JAMES M. INHOFE, Oklahoma JOSEPH I. LIEBERMAN, Connecticut JEFF SESSIONS, Alabama JACK REED, Rhode Island SAXBY CHAMBLISS, Georgia DANIEL K. AKAKA, Hawaii LINDSEY GRAHAM, South Carolina BILL NELSON, Florida JOHN THUNE, South Dakota E. BENJAMIN NELSON, Nebraska MEL MARTINEZ, Florida EVAN BAYH, Indiana ROGER F. WICKER, Mississippi JIM WEBB, Virginia RICHARD BURR, North Carolina CLAIRE McCASKILL, Missouri DAVID VITTER, Louisiana MARK UDALL, Colorado SUSAN M. COLLINS, Maine KAY R. HAGAN, North Carolina MARK BEGICH, Alaska ROLAND W. BURRIS, Illinois RICHARD D. DEBOBES, Staff Director JOSEPH W. BOWAB, Republican Staff Director (II) VerDate Nov 24 2008 10:28 Jan 29, 2010 Jkt 000000 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 0486 Sfmt 0486 Y:\BORAWSKI\DOCS\54639.TXT JUNE PsN: JUNEB C O N T E N T S CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF WITNESSES CURRENT AND FUTURE WORLDWIDE THREATS TO THE NATIONAL SECURITY OF THE UNITED STATES MARCH 10, 2009 Page Blair, Hon.
    [Show full text]
  • Moving Beyond the “Asian” Check
    Moving Beyond the “Asian” Check Box Analyses of national opportunities and challenges for education data reform through data disaggregation that recognizes the unique identities of Asian American, Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander communities Southeast Asia Resource Action Center June 2013 Moving Beyond the “Asian” Check Box © 2013 SEARAC Produced by: Southeast Asia Resource Action Center (SEARAC) 1628 16th Street, NW Washington, DC 20009-3099 202.601.2960 phone 202.667.6449 fax www.searac.org Author: Quyen Dinh, SEARAC Contributors: Mark Ro Beyersdorf, Asian American Legal Defense & Education Fund (AALDEF) William Chiang, Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, AFL-CIO (APALA) Monica Thammarath, Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, AFL-CIO (APALA)/National Council of Asian Pacific Americans (NCAPA) About the Southeast Asia Resource Action Center The Southeast Asia Resource Action Center (SEARAC) is a national organization that advances the interests of Cambodian, Laotian, and Vietnamese Americans by empowering communities through advocacy, leadership development, and capacity building to create a socially just and equitable society. SEARAC was founded in 1979 to foster the development of nonprofit organizations led by and for Southeast Asian Americans. Today, SEARAC strengthens the capacity of community-based organizations led by refugees from around the world, serves as a coalition builder and leader among diverse refugee communities, carries out action-based research projects, fosters civic engagement among refugees, and represents refugee communities at the national level in Washington, DC and at the state level in California. Special Thanks & Acknowledgements to Our Contributors SEARAC would like to thank the following partner organizations who contributed to the analysis and writing of this report.
    [Show full text]
  • Perception, Identity, and the Role of Choice in Race
    William & Mary Journal of Race, Gender, and Social Justice Volume 26 (2019-2020) Issue 3 Article 3 April 2020 Flexibly Fluid & Immutably Innate: Perception, Identity, and the Role of Choice in Race Emily Lamm Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarship.law.wm.edu/wmjowl Part of the Law and Race Commons, Legal History Commons, and the United States History Commons Repository Citation Emily Lamm, Flexibly Fluid & Immutably Innate: Perception, Identity, and the Role of Choice in Race, 26 Wm. & Mary J. Women & L. 525 (2020), https://scholarship.law.wm.edu/wmjowl/ vol26/iss3/3 Copyright c 2020 by the authors. This article is brought to you by the William & Mary Law School Scholarship Repository. https://scholarship.law.wm.edu/wmjowl FLEXIBLY FLUID & IMMUTABLY INNATE: PERCEPTION, IDENTITY, AND THE ROLE OF CHOICE IN RACE EMILY LAMM* INTRODUCTION I. THE CONSTRUCTION AND RECONSTRUCTION OF RACE A. Race & Rhetoric: Justifications for Slavery and American Imperialism B. Dominance Through Division: The Racial Hierarchy’s Ultimate Illusion C. Ensnared Elevation: The Plight of Races Deemed Superior II. IN SEARCH OF CLARITY: DECONSTRUCTING RACE IN THE COURTROOM A. Endorsing Racism B. Judicial Waffling C. Recognizing the Power of Perception III. MITIGATING THE BATTLE BETWEEN PERCEPTION AND IDENTITY A. Choosing a Racial Identity B. Taking One Small Step in a Delicate Dance CONCLUSION INTRODUCTION October 27, 2018, was an unfathomable day. Within the tran- quility of the Squirrel Hill neighborhood in Pittsburgh, Pennsylva- nia, one of the deadliest attacks on the Jewish community in the United States had taken place. For nothing more than their faith, a remorseless white supremacist stripped eleven members of the Tree of Life Synagogue of their lives.1 After twenty-two years in the FBI, special agent Robert Jones called this the “most horrific crime scene” that he had ever witnessed.2 Though unfathomable, this * JD, Vanderbilt Law School, Order of the Coif, 2019; Biology BS, Denison University, summa cum laude, 2016.
    [Show full text]
  • Burmese Refugee Women in Resettlement: Narratives Of
    BURMESE REFUGEE WOMEN IN RESETTLEMENT: NARRATIVES OF STRENGTH, RESILIENCE, AND POSTTRAUMATIC GROWTH A DISSERTATION IN Counseling Psychology Presented to the Faculty of the University of Missouri-Kansas City in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY by JOANNA CHEE MAUNG M.A., University of Missouri-Kansas City, 2015 B.A., University of California, San Diego, 2010 Kansas City, Missouri 2018 © 2018 JOANNA CHEE MAUNG ALL RIGHTS RESERVED BURMESE REFUGEE WOMEN IN RESETTLEMENT: NARRATIVES OF STRENGTH, RESILIENCE, AND POSTTRAUMATIC GROWTH Joanna Chee Maung, Candidate for Doctor of Philosophy University of Missouri-Kansas City, 2018 ABSTRACT Though there is research to suggest a robust association between exposure to traumatic events and negative mental health outcomes (Fazel, Wheeler, & Danesh, 2005), refugees, amongst other individuals, demonstrate remarkable resilience and ability to cope with adverse stressors (Schweitzer, Greenslade, & Kagee, 2007)—some even report positive psychological changes as a result of their struggle with highly challenging life circumstances (Tedeschi & Calhoun, 2004b; Hussain & Bhushan, 2013). The goal of this qualitative study was to examine the strengths, adaptive capacity, and posttraumatic growth experiences of a community of female Burmese refugees resettled in a Midwestern city of the United States. Based on data gathered from eleven participants, Consensual Qualitative Research (CQR) analysis yielded a thematic overview of four domains: (a) pre-resettlement experiences; (b) post-resettlement experiences; (c) coping and resilience; and (d) experiences of posttraumatic growth. The results provided contextual evidence to the pre-resettlement and post-resettlement stressors experienced by Burmese refugee women in resettlement. Findings also highlighted the strengths, protective factors, and resources of Burmese refugee women, whose narratives of positive growth and change seemed to co-exist with memories and experiences of trauma, suffering, and hardship.
    [Show full text]
  • Refugees from Burma/Myanmar and Bhutan in the United States
    2014 INVISIBLE NEWCOMERS REFUGEES FROM BURMA/MYANMAR AND BHUTAN IN THE UNITED STATES INVISIBLE NEWCOMERS: REFUGEES FROM BURMA/MYANMAR AND BHUTAN IN THE UNITED STATES The usage of the term “Burma” is consistent with reports released by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security as they track refugees to the United States. We recognize the sensitivity that exists regarding the use of the term. We use Burmese Americans and Burmese refugees to encompass all refugees with origins in Burma/Myanmar with the understanding that there are numerous ethnic groups who prefer to be identified by their respective ethnic identity. We are also sensitive to the use of the country’s current official name of The Republic of the Union of Myanmar. Many in the international community use Myanmar because they believe that nations should be referred to by the name that they prefer. We are aware of the recent changes in U.S. relations with the country and that in its May 15, 2013 statement regarding Myanmar President Thein Sein’s visit to the United States, the Obama Administration referred to the country as Myanmar, as INVISIBLE NEWCOMERS: a courtesy gesture of respect for a government that is pursuing a REFUGEES FROM BURMA/ transformative reform agenda. MYANMAR AND BHUTAN IN THE UNITED STATES ASSOCIATION FOR ASIAN AMERICAN STUDIES (AAAS) Funding for this project is Chia Youyee Vang, Ph.D. provided by the Asian & Co-Principal Investigator, Associate Professor, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Pacific Islander American Monica Mong Trieu, Ph.D. Scholarship Fund (APIASF), Co-Principal Investigator, Assistant Professor, Purdue University in collaboration with the ADVISORY COMMITTEE Association for Asian Mary Yu Danico, Ph.D.
    [Show full text]
  • Disaggregating and Identifying Partisan Political Trends in Asian-American Communities
    NOT ALL THE SAME: DISAGGREGATING AND IDENTIFYING PARTISAN POLITICAL VIEWS IN ASIAN AMERICAN COMMUNITIES by Nicholas Michela Bellomy A thesis submitted to Johns Hopkins University in conformity with the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts Baltimore, Maryland May, 2019 © 2019 Nicholas Michela Bellomy All Rights Reserved Abstract This study looks to address gaps in the existing literature by examining the salience of ethnicity in impacting partisan political views among Asian Americans. Asian Americans are the fastest growing racial group in the United States. Yet, this diverse community is understudied in both the national political discourse and in political science, compared to other racial communities. The existing studies related to Asian Americans and the political landscape generally aggregate diverse ethnic communities, with potentially diverse political views, into a single Asian American political bloc based on race. The resulting explanatory theories for Asian American political activity center on explaining political participation, such as voting in an election or joining political interests groups. However, these theories do not examine the views of Asian American individuals or communities towards key partisan political issues, nor do they examine how unique ethno-cultural factors contribute to issue view formation. Through analyzing respondent data from the National Asian American Survey 2016 Post-Election Survey, this study identified that ethnicity plays a significant role in impacting several partisan political issue views. The issues studied included: political party affiliation; approval for a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants; legalization of abortion; legal protections for lesbian, gay, and transgender individuals; and views on the efficacy of the Affordable Care Act.
    [Show full text]