The racial and ethnic identity development of Korean American transracial adoptees and its impact on their college experience

Abstract

Transracial adoption has created a hidden identity for this population, which in turn has had profound impact on their understanding of self; especially their racial and ethnic identity. This research focuses on the needs of Korean American transracial adoptees in particular, during their transition into higher education. In this portraiture, I explored the lived experiences of Korean American transracial adoptees and their ethnic and racial identity development and its impact on their overall college experiences. Critical race theory guided the research questions used for this analysis. General guide interview were conducted with a total of four Korean American transracial adoptees. Two adoptees are currently attending colleges in Massachusetts and two adoptees are recent graduates from colleges in Massachusetts. Findings from this research may be used by college administrators, staff, and faculty to raise awareness of issues and challenges adoptees may face in college and to better serve these students in college. Furthermore, these findings support the importance of narrative and allowing individuals to find their voice in telling their stories.