Sociology 242 - The Contemporary Asian American Experience: Honorary White or Forever Foreigners?
Asian American Experience
Spring
2025
01
4.00
Jinwon Kim
TU TH 10:50 AM - 12:05 PM
Smith College
SOC-242-01-202503
Hatfield 202
jkim50@smith.edu
Since the 19th century, Asian Americans have been perceived as mysterious and threatening foreign beings—"yellow perils." At the same time, however, they have also been portrayed as exemplars of highachieving, successful minorities, with aspirations for higher education and hard work. How can ethnic minorities be perceived simultaneously as "model minorities" while still being viewed as "forever foreigners?" This class examines how Asian America is defined and formed, and why understandings of Asian Americans have evolved over time. Major themes include the model minority myth, media portrayals, gender, family, adoption, U.S. militarism, violence, interracial conflicts, food, and consumption. Prerequisite: SOC 101. Enrollment limited to 35.
[CE] SOC 101