Forever Foreign? Asian Australians Assimilating to Australian Culture Are Still Perceived as Less Australian Than White Australians

Abstract

<jats:p> Westerners of Asian descent emphasize their engagement with national culture to assert their national identity. The present research investigates whether this strategy effectively enhances observers’ perceptions of Asian Westerners’ national identity. In Study 1 ( N = 160), Australian participants evaluated an Asian or White target, manipulated to be either hyper-Australian or not. In Study 2 ( N = 440), targets were additionally manipulated to be either Australian-born or not. Across both studies, Asian targets depicted as hyper-Australian, Australian-born, or both, were considered more Australian than generic Asian targets. However, Asian targets were consistently rated as less Australian than White counterparts who were depicted equivalently apart from race. Thus, the strategy of heavy engagement with the national culture increases perceptions of Asian Westerners’ national identity, but not to the point that they are considered equivalently to White Westerners. </jats:p>

Discrepancies in East Asians’ perceived actual and ideal phenotypic facial features.

“…Researchers have strongly suggested that the phenotypic “White ideal” permeates across cultures and is internalized by people of Asian descent across the world (Aquino & Steinkamp, 2016; Bissell & Chung, 2009; David & Nadal, 2013; David & Okazaki, 2006; Hall, 1995; Jung & Lee, 2006; Mok, 1998a, 1998b; Murray & Price, 2011). In addition, those residing in Western nations such as the United States are further socialized to understand that the adoption of White norms and ideals is tantamount to being accepted and bolstering one’s social position (Bonilla-Silva, 2013; Kim, 1999; Thai, Barlow, & Hornsey, 2014; Thai, Szeszeran, Hornsey, & Barlow, 2020; Zhou, 2004; Zhou & Xiong, 2005). Given the pervasive idealization of White phenotypicality that has previously been found to affect the phenotypic self-perceptions of Black Americans (Bond & Cash, 1992), it is important to investigate whether East Asians experience a phenotypic actual–ideal discrepancy such that they idealize “Whiter” features.…”

‘I’m the centre part of a Venn diagram’: belonging and identity for Taiwanese-Australian intercountry adoptees

“…Australian society has been characterised as transitioning from a legacy of Anglo domination and cultural superiority to gradual acceptance of multiculturalism, not unlike other settler societies with recent substantial immigration (Forrest and Dunn, 2006). Prior research, including public opinion surveys, has identified Asian-Australians as an ‘out-group’ of ‘key others to the Australian national imagination’ who face intolerance (Dunn, et al., 2004: 412) and are perceived as less Australian than white migrants, even if they display assimilation with the national culture (Thai, et al., 2020). As physical appearance may be the strongest indicator of who is perceived as Australian – what Andrzej Gwizdalski (2014) called ‘visual belonging’ (see also Ang, 2001) – Asian intercountry adoptees in Australia are likely to face challenges with developing their ethnic identity and confronting racism in different societal contexts.…”

Portrayals of Asian women on American television: An analysis of 90 Day Fiancé

“…In American society, Asian Americans are often made to feel that they are not "Americans" and just a group of "forever foreigners" (Thai, 2020). Although many Asians have already integrated into local society, Asian Americans are often asked how long they have lived in the United States or where is their hometown.…”