| Chapter 2: | Asian American Identity: A Review |
It is important to note how the United States Census uses the definition of “Asian” (see p. 1, Chapter 1); however, the statisticians do not distinguish this term from “Asian American” (which commonly refers to individuals of Asian ancestry born in the United States, or individuals who immigrated from an Asian country and have become naturalized citizens). These distinctions are commonly made in the social sciences when trying to understand the unique experiences of each group; however, given how the term Asian American has been re-appropriated and redefined, it could be argued that individuals who come to the United States for further education or employment are also being incorporated into the larger Asian American racial category.
Although these individuals (those who plan to study and work in the United States for a temporary period of time) may personally view themselves as “Asian” and not “Asian American,” their experiences as an “Asian” person living in America are sufficient for inclusion in the present work. We wanted to capture these groups’ experiences because 69 percent of individuals of Asian origin are first-generation immigrants (U.S. Bureau of Census, 2004). The goal of this study is to understand the myriad ways in which individuals of Asian descent define themselves. Thus, there is less interest in the parameters around which people define “Asian Americanness.” In the present research, all individuals of Asian descent who have either been primarily socialized in an Asian country or the United States are potential participants, as they represent the diversity of the Asian/Asian American population as captured by the U.S. Census Report.