In this qualitative, case-study design, five US college students of Southeast Asian heritage participated in individual interviews about their lives during college. Sections of the interviews on maternal ethnic-racial socialization practices were coded for categories of socialization using a previously developed content analysis scheme. Students’ explanations of ethnic socialization practices were less complex than their presentations of racial socialization. For ethnic socialization, students discussed three elements of Cultural Markers, Ethnic Group Identification and Ethnic Family Relationships. Mothers often engaged students to participate in Cultural Marker activities such as the New Year celebration, language, traditional foods, and religious practices. Less frequently, students mentioned Ethnic Group Identification, which included talking about the history of the Hmong and telling stories about the parent’s childhood in Laos. Finally, parents had expectations regarding Ethnic Family Relationships that included family obligations and preparation for marriage to a person of the same background. Racial socialization was more complex. Students focused on three aspects of Racism Awareness, Diversity Awareness, and Racial Group Identification. Students emphasized Racism Awareness when parents talked about experiences of discrimination. Diversity Awareness focused on treating people of all backgrounds equally and fairly. Finally Racial Group Identification involved pride in one’s appearance or racial group. However, students also mentioned aspects of ethnic (Cultural Markers and Ethnic Family Relations) and neutral socialization (Recognizing the Individual Child). These findings will be discussed in relation to the students’ sense of belonging at school that are affected by whether or not they feel tensions between home and school expectations.

Authors:
Susie Lamborn, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, United States

About the Presenter(s)
Dr Susie Lamborn is a University Associate Professor/Senior Lecturer at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in United States

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