| Chapter 1: | Introduction |
There have been a number of theoretical models and empirical measures in the psychological literature that have studied Asian Americans through the process of “ethnic lumping” (Espiritu, 1992), a practice that aggregates or lumps several Asian ethnic groups together in one study. Inherent in this practice is the notion that these Asian ethnic groups will be similar in the ways they identify with their ethnic group and will also have similar social experiences based on their ethnic group membership (Chung, Kim, & Abreu, 2004; Sue & Sue, 1990, Suinn, Ahuna, & Khoo, 1992; Suinn, Rickard- Figueroa, Lew, & Vigil, 1987). As a result of the practice of ethnic lumping, the literature on Asian Americans has become less clear in its distinction between a racial (Asian American) versus an ethnic-specific (Korean) identity.2
For instance, a practice of some researchers has been to conceptualize their empirical studies as capturing the identity and/or experiences of Asian Americans.
However, the actual measurement instrument used includes items that tap into their identity and/or experiences as an ethnic-specific (Korean) group member rather than as a racial (Asian American) group member (Branch, Tayal, & Triplett, 2000; Chung et al., 2004; Lee & Yoo, 2004; Lee, Falbo, Doh, & Park, 2001; Suinn et al., 1987, 1992). Thus, what we understand about Asian American identity is perhaps a more accurate measure of a how a collection of Asian ethnic-specific groups identify with their respective ethnic-specific groups rather than how individuals identify with being Asian American, or what some researchers have termed an “Asian American ethnic identity” (Lee & Yoo, 2004).
Many studies of ethnic-specific identity using Asian American samples employ a generic measure (i.e., a measure that can be used in multiple ethnic-specific groups) of ethnic identity (Branch et al., 2000; Lee, 2003; Lee & Yoo, 2004; Lee et al., 2001; Phinney, 1992; Roysircar-Sodowsky & Maestas, 2000).