DOCSLIB.ORG

The Experience of Burmese Refugees in US Higher Education

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read 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. Date Todd Ream, Ph.D. Date Thesis Supervisor Member, Thesis Hearing Committee _____________________________ Skip Trudeau, Ed.D. Date Member, Thesis Hearing Committee ______________________________ Tim Herrmann, Ph.D. Date Director, M.A. in Higher Education and Student Development iii Abstract From 2005 to 2016, over 12,000 students from Burma have pursued higher education in the US, and the numbers have risen each year (Institute of International Education, 2016). Due to the ongoing civil war in Burma, many of these students come to the US as refugees. This qualitative phenomenological study examined the experiences of Burmese refugees in U.S. higher education to understand better their daily challenges and motivations. The participants in this study were six Burmese refugees enrolled in undergraduate programs at U.S. higher education institutions and one program director at a community organization that serves and empowers the local Burmese population. The researcher conducted one-on-one, semi-structured interviews with participants to gather information. Results of this study revealed four major motivations for participants to succeed in higher education: family, personal effort, educational opportunities, and faculty support. Additionally, results showed barriers to participants’ success included language, cultural insecurities, and finances. Results also indicated two themes emphasized by participants as helpful in their college experiences: first-year college orientation programs and cultural curiosity. Implications for practice include developing greater access to higher education for the Burmese population, practicing cultural curiosity, offering language support, and fostering inclusive first-year orientation programs. This research underscores for higher iv education professionals the importance of creating spaces for cultural curiosity amongst students, faculty, and staff, and how first-year programs have greatly assisted participants during their transition. If higher education professionals consider the barriers to the success of Burmese refugees as well as the students’ motivations, practitioners can better welcome, equip, challenge, and support these students. v Acknowledgements I would like to thank Cohort IX for the continuous support, refreshing conversations, Starbucks runs, peer edits, defense practice feedback (Lauren and Katie), and for consistently looking for ways to care for one another well. You are the definition of collegial. Thank you to my thesis supervisor, Scott, for the consistent encouragement throughout the thesis journey. Thank you for your listening ear as I processed through research ideas and frustrations in your office. Thank you to the Taj Podge (Alana, Jessie, Julia, Sara, and Tricia), for always providing cozy couches, movie nights, bonfires, porch sits, and of course, brownies and ice cream. You made thesis-life balance not only possible but enjoyable. Thank you to all the MAHE faculty for working hard to make these past two years so incredibly meaningful. Thank you for the countless coffee chats on the MAHE tab, from which I always left feeling refreshed and empowered. Thank you to my supervisor, Jack, for showing me what it looks like to care for international students well, and for graciously supporting me as I balanced work, thesis, and grad school. Last but not least, thank you to all the students who participated in this study, and to one in particular (you know who you are) who inspired me to delve deeper into this topic. I have no doubt you will one day change the world. vi Table of Contents Abstract ......................................................................................................................... iii Acknowledgements ......................................................................................................... v Chapter 1 Introduction ..................................................................................................... 1 Definitions ........................................................................................................... 2 Purpose of Study .................................................................................................. 3 Research Questions .............................................................................................. 4 Chapter 2 Literature Review ............................................................................................ 5 History of Refugees in the United States .............................................................. 5 Historical Background of Burma .......................................................................... 6 Common Barriers ............................................................................................... 11 Refugees in Higher Education ............................................................................ 15 Theoretical Framework ...................................................................................... 18 Conclusion ......................................................................................................... 19 Chapter 3 Methodology ................................................................................................. 20 Approach and Design ......................................................................................... 20 Participants ........................................................................................................ 21 Instrument .......................................................................................................... 22 Procedure ........................................................................................................... 22 Analysis ............................................................................................................. 23 vii Summary ........................................................................................................... 23 Chapter 4 Results ........................................................................................................... 24 Motivations ........................................................................................................ 25 Barriers .............................................................................................................. 29 Best Practices ..................................................................................................... 35 Conclusion ......................................................................................................... 39 Chapter 5 Discussion ..................................................................................................... 41 Relationship to Existing Literature ..................................................................... 41 Implications for Practice .................................................................................... 47 Implications for Further Research ...................................................................... 51 Limitations ......................................................................................................... 52 Conclusion ......................................................................................................... 53 References ..................................................................................................................... 54 Appendix A: Interview Questions .................................................................................. 68 Appendix B: Pre-Interview Questionnaire...................................................................... 70 Appendix C: Informed Consent Form ...........................................................................
Load more

Recommended publications
  • 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 .
    [Show full text]
  • 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]
  • 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]