Turning on My Identity Switch: Cultural Identity and Conflicts of Korean Heritage Speakers in the United States (66636)
Session Chair: Minseok Yang
Saturday, January 7, 2023 (12:10)
Session: Session 2
Room: 322B
Presentation Type:Oral Presentation
We examine how Korean heritage speakers (KHSs) understand their cultural identity and conflicts in their adolescence and college periods. Although this population has garnered a great deal of attention from multi-cultural/lingual research, existing literature on this topic has been skewed toward major heritage-speaker populations (e.g., Spanish, Chinese). While KHSs in the United States, the minority population using Korean at home and English in daily life, are recognized as a model minority with their academic and economic achievements, they remain minor and underrepresented regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion issues. Moreover, recent changes in the societal environment, driven by COVID-19, are generating 'Asian Hate', threatening KHSs' physical safety, mental health, and identity. Therefore, it is timely to explore KHSs’ narratives regarding cultural identity and conflicts, particularly in their adolescence and college periods.
Methods. We use interview data from 24 KHSs, which were conducted from May to July 2022 through Zoom. Results. KHSs have established their own identity as a function of confusion, prejudice, and conflicts from peers, parents, and communities in their adolescence. At the same time, they tend to switch their identity contingent on with whom and where they interact, possibly worsening their uncomfortable feeling of being not affiliated in both sides. They have not experienced serious physical threats during the pandemic but continue to fight with prejudices and stereotypes imposed on KHSs, which may implicitly de-evaluate individuals’ unique cultural characteristics and academic efforts. Our results suggest the importance of further academic and practical attention to KHSs.
Authors:
Minseok Yang, West Texas A & M University, United States
Gyu-Ho Shin, Palacký University Olomouc, Czech Republic
Boo Kyung Jung, University of Pittsburgh, United States
About the Presenter(s)
Dr Minseok Yang is a University Assistant Professor/Lecturer at West Texas A&M University, United States
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