How Korean American Women Understand Their Racial, Ethnic and Gender Identities: A Photovoice Study during COVID-19

Background & Purpose

Studies incorporating the experiences of Korean immigrant and Korean American women have been growing in size and scope. The said population is often included in large analyses on health practices, household trends, and family relationships using quantitative data. However, the observed outcomes do not sufficiently capture the ways in which how Korean American women navigate their identities influences their life trajectories. It is crucial to incorporate the lived experiences of these women in the policies and programs that are designed to address racial, ethnic and gender gaps in the society. Grounded in community-based participatory research principles, Photovoice is particularly valuable for the members of a traditionally marginalized group, as its methods can provide validation through the exchange of similar experiences and shared identities.

Methods

Five Korean American women joined the study as participant-collaborators through a national organization working with Korean American communities. The sample is fully Korean American, female, and mothers (60% have more than one child). In partnership with the researcher, the participant-collaborators formed the research question, “As Korean American mothers, what do we want to pass onto the next generation of Korean American children?” and proceeded to collect and analyze photographic data. All five participant-collaborators participated in three 120-minute recorded virtual group meetings. Audio transcripts were analyzed using thematic analysis to identify recurring and overlapping themes in the participant-collaborators’ data interpretation and the ensuing group discussions.

Findings

Data analysis revealed two distinct trajectories of cultural inheritance that reflect the participant-collaborators’ understanding of their racial, ethnic and gender identities: ‘Preservation of the Korean heritage’ and ‘Redefining Korean American-ness.’ Korean food and Korean names were often cited as a means of passing on the ethnic heritage and distinguishing their Korean identities amid the diverse environment in the United States. Creating own family practices not only arose from personal experiences of cultural gender discrimination, but also as a response to the growing societal movements such as Black Lives Matter and Stop AAPI Hate. Multiple participant-collaborators emphasized that embracing emotions and processes, as well as openly discussing racial, ethnic and gender identities as a family are necessities for the next generation of Korean Americans to take ownership of their country.

Conclusions & Implications

Previous Photovoice studies on identity development have demonstrated that community members actively resist the stereotypical beliefs about them and redefine their sense of identity as individuals and as a collective. The findings in this study highlight the growing diversity among Korean American women and their families, as multiple generations of immigrants have been taking root across the country. Furthermore, some of the participant-collaborators transformed this group into an opportunity for community action against anti-Asian hate crimes in their respective workplaces and community affiliations. Social workers, community organizations and policy efforts are encouraged to develop practices, programs and funding opportunities that create spaces for Asian American community members to exchange experiences and identities for validation and self-empowerment.