Transformative learning about anxiety: A duo‐ethnography of Chinese female immigrants

Abstract

Existing studies predominantly analyze the mental health experiences of Chinese international students through a psychological perspective. This study, however, delves into transformative learning (TL) outcomes related to understanding and overcoming “anxiety” from a critical sociological lens. Utilizing a duo‐ethnographic methodology, it sheds light on the transformative learning experiences of three female Chinese researchers as they investigate anxiety in a North American higher education setting. This study uncovers socio‐cultural factors contributing to anxiety among Chinese international students abroad, with a particular emphasis on faculty's racialized habitus, academic struggles, emotions, and gender. It represents an interdisciplinary fusion between critical sociology and adult education, specifically concentrating on TL for social justice and the emotional and relational aspects of TL.