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TRANSGENERATIONAL TRAUMA in JAPANESE AMERICANS a Thesis

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TRANSGENERATIONAL TRAUMA in JAPANESE AMERICANS a Thesis TRANSGENERATIONAL TRAUMA IN JAPANESE AMERICANS A thesis submitted to the faculty of San Francisco State University In partial fulfillment of r\ the requirements for 2 Q, the Degree oil oOCVM Master of Social Work ♦ K353 In Individuals, Families, and Groups by Trisha Fujie Kajioka San Francisco, California May 2017 Copyright by Trisha Fujie Kajioka 2017 CERTIFICATION OF APPROVAL I certify that I have read Transgenerational Trauma in Japanese Americans by Trisha Fujie Kajioka, and that in my opinion this work meets the criteria for approving a thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the degree Master of Social Work at San Francisco State University. Rita Takahashi, Ph.D., MPIA, MSW Professor TRANSGENERATIONAL TRAUMA IN JAPANESE AMERICANS Trisha Fujie Kajioka San Francisco, California 2017 This qualitative study uses photovoice and interviews to explore the concept of transgenerational trauma experienced by Japanese Americans. The study specifically looks at second generation Japanese Americans (U.S. bom citizens of immigrant parents), who were incarcerated in the United States concentration camps during World War II, and their offspring, third generation Japanese Americans. The qualitative photovoice study consisted of eight participants, three second generation and five third generation Japanese Americans. Analyses found concepts of fading culture and cultural identity in participant responses. However, this study did not yield conclusive results about the effects of transgenerational trauma. Instead, these findings will allow the Japanese American community to gain a deeper understanding of their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. I certify that the abstract is a correct representation of the content of this thesis. Date TABLE OF CONTENTS List of Tables..........................................................................................................................vii List of Figures........................................................................................................................viii List of Appendices...................................................................................................................ix Introduction................................................................................................................................1 Definitions..................................................................................................................................1 Statement of the Problem......................................................................................................... 2 Purpose.......................................................................................................................................2 Significance of the Problem..................................................................................................... 3 Explanation and Analysis of the Problem............................................................................... 4 Legal Context................................................................................................................4 Historical Context........................................................................................................ 6 Literature Review.................................................................................................................... 11 What is Trauma?.........................................................................................................11 Transgenerational Trauma.........................................................................................12 Theoretical Views of Trauma....................................................................................14 Japanese American Trauma.......................................................................................15 Holocaust Transgenerational Trauma....................................................................... 17 Healing Trauma..........................................................................................................18 Research Problem...................................................................................................................20 v Research Design and Theories...............................................................................................20 Research Methods...................................................................................................................21 Participant Selection..................................................................................................22 Participants..................................................................................................................23 Interview Process....................................................................................................... 23 Photovoice...................................................................................................................27 Analyzing Photovoice................................................................................................29 Research Results.....................................................................................................................40 Photo voice Text......................................................................................................... 40 Photovoice Photographs.............................................................................................44 Analysis................................................................................................................................... 44 Fading Japanese Culture............................................................................................44 Cultural Identity......................................................................................................... 45 Interview Question Effectiveness.............................................................................46 Photovoice Effectiveness...........................................................................................47 Assessments............................................................................................................................48 Conclusion.............................................................................................................................. 49 Reference................................................................................................................................ 51 Appendix................................................................................................................................. 57 LIST OF TABLES Table Page 1. Photovoice Data................................................................................................. 42 2. Theme Comparison............................................................................................43 LIST OF FIGURES Figures Page 1. Participant 1: Female, Nisei, 89......................................................................... 32 2. Participant 2: Male, Sansei, 63........................................................................... 33 3. Participant 3: Female, Sansei, 58....................................................................... 34 4. Participant 4: Male, Sansei, 58........................................................................... 35 5. Participant 5: Male, Nisei, 91..............................................................................36 6. Participant 6: Male, Sansei, 68........................................................................... 37 7. Participant 7: Female, Sansei, 56....................................................................... 38 8. Participant 8: Female, Nisei, 85......................................................................... 39 viii LIST OF APPENDICES Appendix Page 1. NIH Certificate.........................................................................................................57 ix 1 Introduction This thesis reveals that the trauma experienced by an individual, directly, also affects many others for generations. The exclusion and incarceration of Japanese Americans, for example, traumatized people who were forced to go into concentration camps solely based on their race. The impact of this U.S. Government action not only impacted the targeted persons through direct-trauma, but also their descendants through transgenerational trauma. I chose to research Japanese Americans because I am a fourth-generation Japanese American. All four of my grandparents are second-generation Japanese Americans who were imprisoned in the United States concentration camps during World War II (WWII). I am interested in the transgenerational trauma passed along from my grandparents’ generation to my parents’ generation because I see the effects of the trauma on myself and my family members. I value self-reflection and personal history, which is why I feel it is important to understand, on a deeper level, the experiences that my family has endured. Additionally, I am interested in applying the concepts learned from this specific instance of transgenerational trauma to other groups of people who experience trauma that affects multiple generations. Definitions The following definitions will be used throughout this paper and are pertinent to understanding the topic of this paper. 2 Concentration Camps: Facilities that were established to imprison people of Japanese ancestry during WWII. Issei: First-generation Japanese Americans who immigrated
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