Asian American Movement Considerations

The Asian American Movement Problems and Prospects

The Differences Between Defining an Asian American Movement relative to other minority groups
Population Diversity: Ethnicity
No Asian ethnic group takes up the majority
Chinese: 23%
Filipino: 18%
Asian Indian: 19%
Japanese: 7%
Korean: 10%
Vietnamese: 11% (Total top 6: 88%)

Population Diversity: Religion
Christians have the largest plurality but not the majority (Lien and Carnes 2004) (PNAAPS 2001)
Protestant: 26%
Catholic: 20%
Buddhist: 15%
Hindu: 6%
Muslim: 2%
No religion: 19%

Population Diversity: Within Asian American Christianity
Among Asian American Christians, Evangelical Protestants have the largest plurality but not the majority (Park, under review)
Evangelical Protestant: 43%
Catholic: 37%
Mainline Protestant: 17%

Population Diversity: Within Asian American Christianity
Among Asian American Christians, Filipinos have the largest plurality but not the majority (Park, under review)
Filipino Christian: 39% (using top 6 groups)
Korean: 21%
Chinese: 13%
Asian Indian: 10%
Vietnamese: 9%
Japanese: 8%

Population Diversity: Christianity Within Asian American Ethnic Groups
Different Asian American Ethnic Christians face radically different faith contexts (Park, under review)
Chinese Christians: 20% Protestant, 3% Catholic
Korean Christians: 69% Protestant, 11% Catholic
Filipino Christians: 18% Protestant, 69% Catholic
South Asian Christians: 2% Protestant, 1% Cath.*
Vietnamese Christians: 13% Protestant, 20% Cath.

Population Diversity: Nonreligious Within Asian American Ethnic Groups
Different Asian American Ethnic Christians face radically different nonreligious contexts (Park, under review)
Chinese nonreligious: 58%
Korean nonreligious: 13%
Filipino nonreligious: 6%
South Asian nonreligious: 20%*
Vietnamese nonreligious: 18%

Population Diversity: Educational Attainment, Household Income
Different Asian American Ethnic groups have different educational attainment rates
Different Asian American Ethnic groups have different household income levels

Bamboo Ceilings
Source: 80-20 Initiative, Data: EEOC 2002 statistics
Asian Americans have respectively a 55%, 41% and 30% chance to be promoted to the manager level in private industries, universities and the Federal government.

Social Movements and the Asian American Movement
Racial Social Movements do not require participation of all ethnic groups to succeed politically (but is it fair?)
“ Strong” Social Movements have specific agendas and a limited number of foci.
“ Strong” Social Movements adapt to changing circumstances (rather than focus on repeated agendas)

Social Movements and the Asian American Movement
Asian American Movement in the 1970s to 2000: largely political and largely east Asian
AAM 1970s: end the Vietnam conflict and provide healthcare to refugees
AAM 1980s: justice for Vincent Chin
AAM 1990s: justice for Wen Ho Lee

What Asian American means to the 2 nd Generation
Interviews with 88 2 nd Gen AsAms: “What do you think of when you hear the phrase ‘Asian American?’” “Who is included?”
At least 8 definitions of “Asian American”
Tension between “multiculturalist” and “racialized” conceptions
Multiculturalist: my ethnic culture allows me to succeed, I am proud of my heritage
Racialized: mainstream society puts me in a box; I have to choose to be non-Asian or face exclusion

What Asian American means to the 2 nd Generation (Caveat)
Due to campus experiences of Asian American evangelical groups, “Asian American” sometimes means “Asian Evangelical”
Due to campus and media experiences generally, “Asian American” can exclude South Asians (might also apply to evangelical Protestant circles also)

Racialized Identity
Point: “Asian American” is an artificial term with real life consequences
Socially imposed but co-opted by groups and individuals

Considerations
Given ethnic, religious, and class diversity Asian Americans have a variety of agendas and contexts
Limited cooperation should be expected
What would an Asian American movement agenda consist of (political presence? Cultural awareness?)
What role would Christian Asian Americans want from their churches in such a movement?

The Asian American Movement Problems and Prospects

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Asian American Movement Considerations

by DJ Chuang on May 01, 2009

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