Activism among Asian American college students: A grounded theory study

Yi, Jacqueline

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/121388 Copy

Description

Title

Activism among Asian American college students: A grounded theory study

Author(s)

Yi, Jacqueline

Issue Date

2022-08-23

Director of Research (if dissertation) or Advisor (if thesis)

Todd, Nathan

Doctoral Committee Chair(s)

Todd, Nathan

Committee Member(s)

• Neville, Helen
• Allen, Nicole
• Chih, David
• Chunoo, Vivechkanand

Department of Study

Psychology

Discipline

Psychology

Degree Granting Institution

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Degree Name

Ph.D.

Degree Level

Dissertation

Keyword(s)

• Asian Americans
• activism
• grounded theory
• model minority myth
• college students
• ecological theory
• intersectionality
• legitimizing ideology

Abstract

Compared to other People of Color in the U.S., Asian Americans are often seen as uninterested in activism. Furthermore, the widespread “model minority myth” (MMM) posits Asian Americans are successful in society and thus unaffected by racial oppression (Chou & Feagin, 2015; Yoo et al., 2010). Despite such perceptions, Asian American college students have historically engaged in activist efforts to challenge racial inequality and work towards social justice (Aguirre & Lio, 2008; Museus et al., 2021). Yet, it remains unclear how and why Asian American college students engage in activism, and little is known about why Asian Americans may choose not to engage in activism. The current research addressed these gaps in the literature by conducting an in-depth, qualitative examination of activism among Asian American college students. Informed by theories on ecological environments (Bronfenbrenner, 1979; Trickett, 1996), the current research examined how Asian Americans understand and engage in activism, and how these may relate to experiences with micro-level contexts (e.g., families, college environments), and existing within macro-level contexts (e.g., the MMM and U.S. racial system). Using a constructivist grounded theory analytic approach, 20 Asian American college students participated in semi-structured interviews. A member-checking process was also employed, where five previous participants and five new participants were interviewed to further develop emerging findings. The current research was comprised of two studies that both draw from these interviews. The first study, presented in Chapter Two, developed a grounded theory of intersectional Asian American activism. Findings described how Asian American college students define, perceive, and engage in activism in the context of their intersectional identities and multiple facets of their ecological environments simultaneously. The second study, presented in Chapter Three, resulted in a theory of how the MMM shapes Asian American activism. Findings demonstrated how Asian American college students are embedded within micro- and macro-level environments (e.g., familial, cultural, and societal contexts) that uphold the MMM and further shape their perspectives and engagement in activism. Chapter Four integrated study findings and discussed key takeaways from the grounded theories of Asian American activism developed across both studies. Together, the current research contributes to the literature by providing a nuanced examination of the interconnections among various aspects of Asian American students’ intersectional identities and ecological environments and how these shape their understanding of and engagement in activism. Implications for future research and practice supporting Asian American college student activism and the broader pursuit for social justice are discussed.

Graduation Semester

2023-08

Type of Resource

Thesis

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2023 Jacqueline Yi

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