A Critical Race Perspective on an Empirical Review of Asian American Parental Racial-Ethnic Socialization

Abstract

This chapter reviews what we currently know about Asian American parental racial-ethnic socialization and provides historical context as well as an outlook for future directions. We first define racial-ethnic socialization and provide a brief history of immigration and racialized experiences of Asians in America. We then present a thorough review of empirical literature on Asian American parental racial-ethnic socialization with attention to measurement, highlighting key limitations of this literature. Finally, we conclude by offering directions for future research to advance scholarship on Asian American parental racial-ethnic socialization that is based on a Critical Race perspective. Understanding how Asian American parents socialize their children to become aware of issues of race, racial oppression, and resistance will continue to be a critical area for youth development.