Asian American Cultures and Languages

asia facts

• 48 countries

• 60.7% of world population

• geographically, linguistically, and culturally diverse

east asia

• japan

• korea

• china

southeast asia

• philippines

• laos

• cambodia

• thailand

• indonesia

• singapore

• vietnam

south asia

• india

• pakistan

• sri lanka

immigration to the US

1. mexico

2. india

3. chine

4. philippines

5. el salvador

india

• 2nd largest immigrant group in the US (4 mil)

• 22 official languages

• 121 languages and 1369 dialects

• english prevalent b/c colonization

• largest language groups

  • hindi

  • bengali

  • marathi

  • telugu

  • tamil

  • gujarati

  • urdu

china

• 3rd largest immigrant group in the US

• largest country in the world

• mandarin = official language

• 302 languages, with sub-dialects

• large language groups

  • cantonese

  • gan

  • hakka

  • min

  • wu

  • xiang

model minority

• asians in US are referred to as “model minority”

• may cause them to be targets of resentment

• social problems may be minimized or ignored; poverty, violence, etc.

• needs may go unmet by education system leading to higher dropout rate

chinese exclusion act 1882

act suspended chinese immigration for 10 years

• 1902 chinese immigration was permanently illegal until 1943

japanese internment camps

• 120,00 japanese americans were forcibly relocated and incarcerated by the US government

• 2/3 of them were full citizens

• forced to leave their homes and property

vincent chin

• chinese man beaten to death in 1982 in MI

• mistakenly believed to be japanese

• 2 white men admitted to the crime, served no jail time just fined

• galvanized the asian community

COVID 19

hate crimes against asian americans increased of 76% in 2020, likely to due to some believing china was involved in origin of COVID

history of marginalization

• chinese exclusion act 1882

• japanese internment camps

• vincent chin

• 2020 hate crimes

value system

1. collectivism: giving priority of the group vs. the individual

2. filial piety: acting dutifully towards parents and elders

3. acceptance of limitations: conforming to social structures and role obligations

causes of illness

1. metaphysical: disharmony or imbalance

2. physical agents: natural factors or elements “which impinge on the body to bring about harmful changes”

3. supernatural or spiritual: “intervention of supernatural powers following faulty action, violation or religious code, or an accident causing displeasure to a deity”

views of disability

• misfortune, stigma, shame, pitied

• may lack awareness about disabilities/ stigma/disgrace

• mat leas to attempts to conceal the disability

family roles

• patriarchal

• filial piety: younger generation must care for older generation

communication

• use caution when asking personal questions during initial meeting

• family may expect formal relationship between practitioner and client

• may not engage in social conversations with strangers

• silence is sign of respect and politeness

• prolonged and direct eye contact is sign of disrespect

• prolonged and direct eye contact is sign of disrespect, particularly with elders