Critical action among Asian and Hispanic/Latinx youth: Identifying a multidimensional measure and exploring within‐group differences

Abstract

Critical action-behaviours aimed at dismantling systems of oppression-must be examined within youths' racialized experiences and should incorporate cultural and sociohistorical factors. We considered an expansive list of items capturing youth behaviours to create a novel four-factor (service, community change, expression, and care) measure of critical action for Asian and Hispanic/Latinx youth. Multiple distinct profiles of critical action were identified within both racial-ethnic groups, and associations between the profiles and sociodemographic and contextual support variables were explored. Gender differences in the type of critical action were found in both racial-ethnic groups, pointing to the potential influence of gender roles on critical action among these populations. Differences in critical action patterns were also found between those born in the U.S. versus those born outside the U.S.; access to critical action may differ within racial-ethnic groups depending on birthplace and associated nuances in familial and cultural contexts. This paper demonstrated a need for attending to variation between and within groups in the study of critical action in order to effectively support racialized youth's coping within and resistance against systems of oppression.

Differences and similarities between ethnic–racial identity and critical consciousness links among diverse parents of color.

“…Including youth critical consciousness specifically would give an important window into mechanisms by which intergenerational transmission of critical consciousness from parent to child occurs, as well as the possibility to examine concordance and discrepancies between parents’ and children’s levels of critical consciousness (Heberle et al, 2020). Initial evidence from youth self-report indicates that greater parental civic action is associated with high and/or emerging civic action among Asian and Latinx youth (Suzuki et al, 2023), but more work is needed from the parent perspective and using multiple reporters.…”

“…Within each group, we also assess the extent to which nativity status may impact critical consciousness. In a recent study focused on profiles of critical action among Latinx and Asian adolescents, Suzuki et al (2023) not only found evidence of slightly different patterns of critical action between groups but also found that being born in the United States was associated with being in the profile highest in critical action for Asian youth and a less active profile among Latinx youth. A body of research shows that immigrant individuals, including immigrant parents, likely have different “frames of reference” (i.e., thinking of their heritage culture) when moving through and engaging with various social systems in their host country (Ogbu, 2014).…”

Racial discrimination moderates associations between sociopolitical discussions and internalizing problems among racially minoritized college students.

“…Colleges also provide resources to gain skills, knowledge, and abilities that can promote sociopolitical engagement (Watts & Halkovic, 2022). For instance, having peers involved in civic engagement, opportunities to address sociopolitical issues at schools, and facilitators in school organizations with high self-efficacy in discussing sociopolitical issues have been related to greater civic engagement and more frequent sociopolitical discussions (Poteat et al, 2019; Suzuki et al, 2023).…”

Associations between hope and trajectories of critical consciousness among U.S. youth of color

“…Such external factors may be particularly salient for high school students, who typically still lack some autonomy in their lives due to their age. It will be important for future work to explore critical action in context and especially to consider what barriers youth may perceive to participating in critical action (Suzuki et al, 2022).…”