ASIAN AMERICAN ASIAN AMERICAN CULTURECULTURE

Jennifer StoddardJennifer StoddardCIT 506CIT 506

January 14, 2009January 14, 2009

Culture is all the ways of life including arts, Culture is all the ways of life including arts, beliefs, and institutions of a population that beliefs, and institutions of a population that

are passed down from generation to are passed down from generation to generation. Culture has been called the way generation. Culture has been called the way of life for an entire society. Culture includes of life for an entire society. Culture includes manners, dress, religion, and rituals for that manners, dress, religion, and rituals for that

society.society.

CultureCulture

Asian-American DemographicsThe Asian population is one of the fastest-The Asian population is one of the fastest-

growing racial groups in the United States. growing racial groups in the United States.

In 1990, the U.S. Census Bureau accounted In 1990, the U.S. Census Bureau accounted Asian-Americans for 3 percent of the nation’s Asian-Americans for 3 percent of the nation’s population.population.

Asian-Americans are more likely to live in Asian-Americans are more likely to live in metropolitan areas than whites. The U.S. metropolitan areas than whites. The U.S. Census Bureau reported in 1990, that the Census Bureau reported in 1990, that the percentage was 24% to 3%. percentage was 24% to 3%.

In 1998, the Census Bureau In 1998, the Census Bureau stated that the Asian stated that the Asian population was that of 10, population was that of 10, 507,000 and predicted the 507,000 and predicted the Asian population to increase Asian population to increase to 15,265,000 by the year to 15,265,000 by the year 2010. 2010.

Due to the economic crisis Due to the economic crisis in Asia, more Asians will in Asia, more Asians will move to the United States. move to the United States.

Social Interaction and BehaviorsThe Asian culture focuses on interpersonal relationships. Affection is not displayed openly among each other.

Politeness is expected and it communicates consideration for the comfort of others.

The Asian culture avoids expressing their feelings and thoughts to others, especially in public. Their belief is that highly educated people should control their emotions and verbal and nonverbal expressions.

Children of the Asian culture possess obedience, silence, and non-assertiveness. The children may seem withdrawn and unwilling to express themselves openly.

There is very little that we know of the early Asian There is very little that we know of the early Asian Americans who settled during the eighteenth Americans who settled during the eighteenth century. century.

During the mid 1800’s to early 1900’s one million During the mid 1800’s to early 1900’s one million Asian men and women helped to develop the Asian men and women helped to develop the western states. The large majority were laborers and western states. The large majority were laborers and some became small business owners. During this some became small business owners. During this time period they were faced with many issues such time period they were faced with many issues such as racial discrimination, economic exploitation, as racial discrimination, economic exploitation, limited political and civil rights, as well as limited political and civil rights, as well as immigration restrictions. immigration restrictions.

HISTORY

In 1975, close to one million Vietnamese, Cambodians, and Laotians In 1975, close to one million Vietnamese, Cambodians, and Laotians immigrated under the Indochina Migration and Refugee Assistance Act, immigrated under the Indochina Migration and Refugee Assistance Act, the 1980 Refugee Act, and the 1987 Amerasian Homecoming Act. Most the 1980 Refugee Act, and the 1987 Amerasian Homecoming Act. Most arrived having to rebuild their lives that was torn apart by war, the arrived having to rebuild their lives that was torn apart by war, the dislocation of families, poverty, and trauma.dislocation of families, poverty, and trauma.

In the 1960’s-1970’s Asian-Americans of the college population fought In the 1960’s-1970’s Asian-Americans of the college population fought for access and equity in admissions, ethnic studies programs, and the for access and equity in admissions, ethnic studies programs, and the hiring of more minority faculty within colleges.hiring of more minority faculty within colleges.

EducationEducation Asian parents have high academic expectations Asian parents have high academic expectations

for their children. A high academic success for their children. A high academic success brings honor and pride to Asian families. brings honor and pride to Asian families.

Asian immigrants view U.S. public school Asian immigrants view U.S. public school teachers and administrators to be essential teachers and administrators to be essential components for a more secure future for their components for a more secure future for their children.children.

Asian parents believe their children's success to Asian parents believe their children's success to be important because it reflects on the parents. be important because it reflects on the parents. This scholastic achievement is considered by This scholastic achievement is considered by Asian families to be the highest tribute their Asian families to be the highest tribute their child could bring to the family. Failure to meet child could bring to the family. Failure to meet these high expectations can cause feelings of these high expectations can cause feelings of incompetence and inadequacy from both the incompetence and inadequacy from both the child and the parents. child and the parents.

The children of Asian cultures are highly influenced by their families, The children of Asian cultures are highly influenced by their families, homes, and communities when it comes to their education. homes, and communities when it comes to their education.

It is important for teachers to understand and become familiar with their It is important for teachers to understand and become familiar with their cultural traits and heritage. cultural traits and heritage.

ImmigrationImmigration In 1975, after the fall of In 1975, after the fall of

Saigon, most Southeast Asians Saigon, most Southeast Asians emigrated to the United States emigrated to the United States to escape persecution in the to escape persecution in the killing fields of Cambodia. killing fields of Cambodia.

Due to changes in refugee Due to changes in refugee policies in 1982, the policies in 1982, the Vietnamese were permitted to Vietnamese were permitted to enter the United States as enter the United States as immigrants for family immigrants for family reunification purposes. reunification purposes.

Once arriving in the United Once arriving in the United States the Asian immigrants States the Asian immigrants settled in major urban cities settled in major urban cities throughout the U.S. These throughout the U.S. These cities included San Francisco, cities included San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego, Los Angeles, San Diego, Seattle, New York City, Seattle, New York City, Washington D.C., Portland, and Washington D.C., Portland, and Chicago.Chicago.

LanguageLanguage

Little information is known about the Little information is known about the language development of school language development of school aged in Asian cultures. aged in Asian cultures.

Asian American children’s language Asian American children’s language

is influenced by many languages is influenced by many languages such as Mandarin, Cantonese, such as Mandarin, Cantonese, Vietnamese, Chamorro, and Hmong. Vietnamese, Chamorro, and Hmong.

Asian immigrants speak with a Asian immigrants speak with a marked accent and sometimes may marked accent and sometimes may lack fluency, which can cause a lack fluency, which can cause a communication barrier. communication barrier.

Many Asian children are over Many Asian children are over identified for special educational identified for special educational services due to their phonological services due to their phonological difficulties, traditional reliance on difficulties, traditional reliance on oral communication, and use of oral communication, and use of dialects. dialects.

ReferencesReferences Lee, G.L. & Manning, M.L. (2000, Fall). Treat Asian parents and families right. Lee, G.L. & Manning, M.L. (2000, Fall). Treat Asian parents and families right.

The Education Digest, 76The Education Digest, 76(4), 39-45. (4), 39-45.

Mathews, R. (2000, November). Cultural patterns of South Asian and Mathews, R. (2000, November). Cultural patterns of South Asian and Southeast Asian Americans. Southeast Asian Americans. Intervention in School and Clinic,Intervention in School and Clinic, 3636(2), (2), 101-104. 101-104.

Hune, S. (2002, Spring). Demographics and diversity of Asian American college Hune, S. (2002, Spring). Demographics and diversity of Asian American college students. students. New Directions for Student Services, 97, New Directions for Student Services, 97, 11-20.11-20.

Palmer, B.C., Chen, C.I., & Leclere, J.T. (2006, March/April). The impact Palmer, B.C., Chen, C.I., & Leclere, J.T. (2006, March/April). The impact of of bioculturalism on language and literacy development: Teaching Chinese bioculturalism on language and literacy development: Teaching Chinese English language learners. English language learners. Reading Horizons 46Reading Horizons 46(4), 239-265. (4), 239-265.

Sileo, T.W. & Prater, M.A. (1998, November/December). Creating Sileo, T.W. & Prater, M.A. (1998, November/December). Creating classroom classroom environments that address the linguistic and cultural environments that address the linguistic and cultural backgrounds of backgrounds of students with disabilities: Asian pacific American students with disabilities: Asian pacific American perspective. perspective. Remedial Remedial and Special Education 19and Special Education 19(6) 323-337. (6) 323-337.

U.S. Census Bureau. (2008). American Fact Finder. Retrieved January 13, 2008, U.S. Census Bureau. (2008). American Fact Finder. Retrieved January 13, 2008, from from http://http://www.census.gov/index.htmlwww.census.gov/index.html