Locating Identity: Narratives of Ethnic and Racial Identity Experiences of Asian American Student Leaders of Ethnic Student Organizations Thesis Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts in the Graduate School of The Ohio State University By Annabelle Lina Estera Graduate Program in Education The Ohio State University 2013 Thesis Committee: Dr. Susan Robb Jones, Advisor Dr. Tatiana Suspitsyna Copyright by Annabelle Lina Estera 2013 Abstract The purpose of this constructivist narrative study was to explore how Asian American student leaders of ethnic student organizations (ESOs) experience their ethnic and racial identities in the context of their ESO and the classroom. The primary research questions guiding this study were: (a) How do Asian American student leaders of ESOs experience and make sense of their ethnic and racial identities within the context of their involvement with their ESO; (b) How do Asian American student leaders of ESOs experience and make sense of their ethnic and racial identities within the classroom? Data collection included semi-structured interviews with six participants. Data was analyzed through Clandinin and Connelly’s “three dimensional narrative inquiry space” (2000, p. 49) for elements of interaction, continuity, and situation. Restories of each participants’ narrative were presented. Findings from this study include: (1) Complex and varied understandings and negotiations of ethnic and racial identities within the ESO context; and (2) Salience of ethnic and racial identity in the classroom associated with negative, challenging, and positive experiences. ii Acknowledgments I offer my deepest gratitude to Dr. Susan R. Jones for her guidance throughout this process. I thank her for her unending encouragement and invaluable feedback, which pushed myself to become a better researcher and inspired me to realize my potential as scholar. I would also like to thank Dr. Tatiana Suspitsyna for her wisdom and challenging me to think beyond the boundaries of identity. To the participants of this study, Ajay, Amy, Benjamin, Darren, Maria, and Mariel, I owe my humblest appreciation for their time and openness in sharing their experiences. I learned so much from all of them. It is my hope that their narratives inspire and resonate with others, that coming to understand more of the complexities regarding Asian American identities prompts further exploration of this topic. I am also thankful to the many people around me that have offered their unwavering support. To my cohort, thanks for all of your friendship and motivation during this time, especially all of the other thesis folks. It has been an honor to learn and grow with all of you. To my friends in the Graduate Pan Asian Caucus, I am so grateful for your support and friendship. I would also like to thank Mitsu Narui for her expertise and generosity. Finally, to my wonderful family, thank you for always being there for me. iii Vita 2005................................................................Princeton High School 2010................................................................B.A. Interdepartmental Studies, University of Rochester 2012 to present ..............................................Graduate Administrative Associate, Office of Student Life, The Ohio State University Fields of Study Major Field: Education iv TABLE OF CONTENTS Abstract ............................................................................................................................... ii Acknowledgements ............................................................................................................ iii Vita ..................................................................................................................................... iv List of Tables ..................................................................................................................... ix CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................1 Impact of Increasing Racial and Ethnic Diversity in Higher Education ........................1 Asian American Students in Higher Education .............................................................2 Growth and Diversity ...............................................................................................3 Complexities of Racial and Ethnic Identity Development ......................................4 Student Involvement ......................................................................................................6 Asian American Involvement in Ethnic Student Organizations ..............................7 Research Questions ........................................................................................................8 Overview of Methodology .............................................................................................9 Significance of the Study .............................................................................................10 Summary ......................................................................................................................11 CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW ...........................................................................13 Ethnic and Racial Identity Development of Asian American Students .......................13 Ethnicity .................................................................................................................14 Ethnic Identity ........................................................................................................14 External and internal aspects of ethnic identity ...............................................15 Ethnic identity development ..................................................................................16 Phinney’s (1995) model of ethnic identity development .................................16 Nadal’s (2004) Filipino American identity development model .....................18 South Asian identity development model ........................................................19 Race in the United States .......................................................................................19 Racial Identity ........................................................................................................20 Racial Identity Development .................................................................................22 Helms’ (1995) People of Color racial identity development model ................22 Kim’s (2012) Asian American racial identity development theory .................26 Relationship between ethnic and racial identity ........................................28 Accapadi’s (2012) Asian American identity consciousness model .................28 Conscientization ...............................................................................................29 Asian American psychosocial development ....................................................30 Complexities of Ethnic and Racial Identity Development ....................................30 Racialization of Ethnicity ................................................................................31 Salience ........................................................................................................32 Asian Americans in a Changing American Society .........................................34 v External Influences on Ethnic and Racial Identity Development of Asian Americans ....................................................................................................................36 Model Minority Myth ............................................................................................37 History ........................................................................................................37 Misconceptions stemming from the model minority myth ..............................37 Impact of the model minority myth on Asian American students ...................38 Perpetual Foreigner Myth ......................................................................................40 Impact of the perpetual foreigner myth on Asian American students .............41 Campus Climate .....................................................................................................43 Microaggressions towards Asian American students ............................................47 Influences of Involvement on Ethnic and Racial Identity Development .....................48 Student Involvement ..............................................................................................49 Participation in Ethnic Student Organizations .......................................................50 Asian American Leadership in Ethnic Student Organizations ..............................52 Summary ......................................................................................................................55 CHAPTER 3: METHDOLOGY ........................................................................................56 Purpose of Study and Research Questions ...................................................................56 Methodological Approach ...........................................................................................57 Narrative Inquiry ..........................................................................................................57 Narrative Inquiry and Asian American Identity ....................................................59 Who I Am as a Researcher ...........................................................................................60