Asian American Female College Students' Subjective Femininity Conceptualizations: Using a Mixed‐Methods Approach

Abstract

This mixed-methods study explored 184 Asian American female college students' subjective femininity conceptualizations and their associations with family conflict. A direct content analysis of responses identified 5 categories of subjective femininity conceptualizations: model minority, physical attributes, traditional femininity, subordinate roles, and modern femininity. Conceptualizations of subordinate roles were positively related to intensity of family conflict. Interdependent self-construal moderated the relationship between subjective conceptualizations of subordinate roles, modern femininity, and intensity of family conflict. Clinical implications of these findings are discussed.Este estudio de métodos combinados exploró las conceptualizaciones subjetivas de feminidad y sus asociaciones con conflictos familiares entre 184 estudiantes universitarias asiático-americanas. Un análisis directo del contenido de las respuestas identificó 5 categorías de conceptualizaciones subjetivas de feminidad: modelo de minoría, atributos físicos, feminidad tradicional, roles subordinados y feminidad moderna. Las conceptualizaciones de roles subordinados se relacionaron de forma positiva con la intensidad de los conflictos familiares. La autoconstrucción interdependiente moderó la relación entre las conceptualizaciones subjetivas de roles subordinados, la feminidad moderna y la intensidad de los conflictos familiares. Se discuten las implicaciones clínicas de estos hallazgos.

Negotiating "cultural" identities: exploration of young Asian women's racialized-gendered experiences and mental well-being

“…Patriarchy influences the division of labour in the family and drives the gendered roles and norms their children are socialized into (Vu & Rook, 2012). For example, daughters are expected to maintain chastity, obedience, and care for the family and the home (Chang, Wong, Liu, & Tran, 2017), whereas sons are encouraged to pursue higher education and occupational aspirations (Vu & Rook, 2012). This "cultural" conceptualization of gender may present mental health and identity development challenges as daughters are primarily expected to transmit cultural and familial values instead of exploring other avenues of expression (Gartner, Kiang & Supple, 2014).…”

“…Furthermore, the worldwide practice of patriarchy is often negated in discussions about "Asian" cultures. As such, Asian communities are portrayed to be gender restricting and patriarchal, (re)producing the stereotypes that Asian women are expected to maintain cultural continuity, chastity, subservience, and domestic practices (Chang et al, 2017), while males are encouraged to pursue education and career aspirations (Vu & Rook, 2012).…”

Asian American adolescent girls: Navigating stress across multiple contexts.

“…It is important to note that the model minority stereotype is pervasive, with one study reporting over 99% of Asian American adolescents having had some encounter with being stereotyped as a model minority (Thompson & Kiang, 2010). For Asian American girls, the interaction of race and gender stereotypes results in distinct stereotypes including the China doll, geisha girl, lotus blossom, dragon lady, and tiger mom (Chang et al, 2017). The China doll and geisha girl stereotypes portray Asian women and girls as subservient and dependent.…”

“…The racism that Asian American adolescents face manifests in various behaviors, including name-calling, racial or ethnic teasing, bullying, social rejection, vandalism of homes and places of worship, and physical violence (Alvarez & Juang, 2010). Studies have documented the association between racial, ethnic, and religious discrimination, including microaggressions and negative mental health outcomes among Asian American youth, including depression, anxiety, substance abuse, disordered eating, and suicidal ideation (Chang, Wong, Liu, & Tran, 2017;Cheng, Lin, & Cha, 2015;P. Y. Kim et al, 2017;Nadal et al, 2015).…”

Traditional Femininity Versus Strong Black Women Ideologies and Stress Among Black Women

“…Similar perspectives have emerged regarding African American masculinity (Bryan, 2018;Clatterbaugh, 2018;Hall, 1997;R. L. Jackson & Dangerfield, 2004;Majors & Billson, 1993;Rogers, Sperry, & Levant, 2015) and Asian femininity (Chang, Wong, Liu, & Tran, 2017;Pyke & Johnson, 2003). In addition, intersectionality theory (Case, 2016;Crenshaw, 1989;Essed, 1991) has called our attention to the intersection of the social identities of gender and race, in which African American women experience racially and gendered oppression as both women and African American people simultaneously.…”