A Phenomenological Exploration of Korean Adoptees' Multiple Minority
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University of Denver Digital Commons @ DU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Graduate Studies 2020 A Phenomenological Exploration of Korean Adoptees’ Multiple Minority Identities Jared Utley Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.du.edu/etd Part of the Asian American Studies Commons, Counseling Commons, and the Counseling Psychology Commons A PHENOMENOLOGICAL EXPLORATION OF KOREAN ADOPTEES’ MULTIPLE MINORITY IDENTITIES __________ A Dissertation Presented to the Faculty of the Morgridge College of Education University of Denver __________ In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy __________ by Jared Utley August 2020 Advisor: Dr. Ruth Chao Author: Jared Utley Title: A PHENOMENOLOGICAL EXPLORATION OF KOREAN ADOPTEES’ MULTIPLE MINORITY IDENTITIES Advisor: Dr. Ruth Chao Degree Date: August 2020 Abstract Since the end of the Korean War, Korean children have been placed for international adoption due to their marginalized status in South Korea. In the United States, Korean children have predominantly been adopted to White families through transracial adoption (Bergquist, 2003; Lee, 2003). Transracial adoption describes the process of children being placed in a home where there are racial differences with one or both adoptive parents. Through international transracial adoption, Korean adoptees may undergo events that impact the salience and development of multiple minority identities, including: racial, ethnic, cultural, and as an adoptee. These experiences may be shaped by interactions with socialization/reculturation experiences with race, culture, or ethnicity; minority distress; or difficulties coping with mental health concerns. Moreover, Korean adoptees confront an array of legal, cultural, and social barriers stemming from their minority identities in either their adoptive country or birth country. Based on the multifaceted experiences and backgrounds of Korean adoptees, this study utilized an interpretative phenomenological approach that identified eleven themes: Coping with Adoption; Experiences Around Visiting Korea; Identity; Mental Health; Minority Distress; Personal Values; Reactions to Participation; Relationships; Self- Beliefs; Social Support; and Strengths. The study highlighted the Korean adoptees sense making and recall of significant experiences over the course of a lifespan. The participants also depicted their interactions within numerous settings and contexts as Korean adoptees in the United States and Korea. The theory of intersectionality was ii critical to contextualize the individual differences, multiple minority identities, and the individual’s interactions with social and cultural oppression. The implications for the research are noted for clinical and training purposes. These include how the data can inform clinical decision-making when integrating the Korean adoptees’ strengths, values, multicultural considerations, and processing meaningful experiences. There are additional research directions that could continue to progress the research with Korean and international adoptees as well. Lastly, it touches on how this project was personally meaningful and important for me to complete. iii Table of Contents Abstract ............................................................................................................................... ii Acknowledgements ............................................................................................................ vi Chapter 1: Introduction ........................................................................................................1 Background of Korean International Adoption in the United States ...........................1 Multiple Minority Identities .........................................................................................3 Socialization/Reculturation Experiences ......................................................................4 Minority Stress .............................................................................................................6 Distress Outcomes ........................................................................................................7 Addressing the Needs from Previous Research ...........................................................8 Purpose of the Study ...................................................................................................11 Chapter 2: Literature Review .............................................................................................14 Adoption: Background Information ............................................................................14 Philosophical Framework ...........................................................................................20 Introduction to Social and Cultural Identities for Korean Adoptees ..........................22 Socialization ................................................................................................................39 Minority Stress ............................................................................................................63 Distress Outcomes ......................................................................................................75 Chapter 3: Method .............................................................................................................87 Rationale for Qualitative Research .............................................................................87 Phenomenology...........................................................................................................88 Interpretative Phenomenology ....................................................................................90 Reflexive Autobiography ............................................................................................96 Data Collection .........................................................................................................102 Data Analysis ............................................................................................................111 Rigor .........................................................................................................................115 Ethical Considerations ..............................................................................................118 Chapter 4: Results ............................................................................................................122 Themes ......................................................................................................................122 Summary ...................................................................................................................282 Chapter Five: Discussion .................................................................................................285 Connection to Previous Findings ..............................................................................286 Strengths of the Study ...............................................................................................292 Implications for Practice ...........................................................................................297 Implications for Training ..........................................................................................302 Research Limitations ................................................................................................307 Future Directions ......................................................................................................309 Personal Reflections about the Research Process .....................................................311 iv References ........................................................................................................................316 Appendices .......................................................................................................................349 Appendix A: Advertisement Flyer ...........................................................................349 Appendix B: Letter of Introduction Form ................................................................350 Appendix C: Informed Consent Form .....................................................................351 Appendix D: Demographic Survey ..........................................................................353 Appendix E: Email to Direct Selected Participants .................................................354 Appendix F: Interview Protocol Part I .....................................................................355 Appendix G: Interview Protocol Part II ...................................................................356 Appendix H: Pre-Interview Script for Interview One..............................................358 Appendix I: Thematic Coding Table .......................................................................360 v Acknowledgements I would like to show appreciation for the eight Korean adoptees and the many more who were willing to participate in this study. The powerful stories, messages, and reflections were poignant for me now and forever. Thank you for the Korean adult adoptee Facebook groups and adoptee organizations who were willing to distribute information about the study. Thank you to Ruth Chao for offering me tremendous amounts of guidance, support, and advice during this dissertation process. You were tireless in your advocacy and helpfulness not only with the completion of this paper, but also in progressing toward the end of