Filipino American political participation

Abstract

ABSTRACTThis paper describes initial findings from our ongoing research on Filipino American political participation. We seek to understand why, despite its long history and considerable number in the U.S.A., the group remains politically invisible. We interviewed 33 politically active community members to gain information and insight on how and why Filipinos engage politically (or not). Most of the interviewees indicated that the main mode of participation among Filipinos is voting, and that they tend not to support political campaigns with financial contributions or volunteer time, which may partly explain the group’s lack of visibility and clout. Interview respondents discussed various influences on Filipino engagement: their family and peers, their personal relationship with a political candidate, the alignment of personal values with a candidate’s values, the church and other community organizations, and their economic interests. We believe that these factors are not mutually exclusive and additional research is necessary to understand how these various influences interact to motivate Filipinos. We also learned about barriers to political participation and share suggestions on ways Filipinos can gain visibility. Our study provides information and understanding of Filipino American political participation which may inform future research and theorizing on their political incorporation.