Asian American/Pacific Islander Racialization in Social Work: Lived Experience and Approaches to Healing

The mental health of Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) is significantly shaped by this underexplored intersection of racialization and intergenerational trauma. Racialization is a traumatizing experience that is transmitted across generations. Racialized trauma focuses on how social structures and institutions perpetuate trauma through the systemic and ongoing process of racializing certain groups and acknowledges that the trauma is not just a product of individual acts of prejudice but is deeply embedded in the fabric of society. Racialized trauma encompasses the historical and intergenerational aspects of racism, including the legacies of colonialism, exclusion and segregation, and historical racialization that continue to impact the mental health of Asian American and Pacific Islander communities today. There is a feedback loop of institutional racism against AAPI as evidenced from limited research opportunities; the dearth of AAPI health data has contributed to the model minority myth, that most Asian Americans are better positioned, including in health, than other racial/ethnic groups, which in turn perpetuates AAPI communities in being overlooked for health-related funding and policies. Asian American researchers are the only racial minority group explicitly excluded from eligibility for diversity-related NIH funding (Kim et al,. 2021). Many diversity initiatives for mentorship at universities as well have overlooked Asian Americans (Kim et al,. 2021). Lee (2006) notes Asian Americans’ racial limbo as a consequence of racial triangulation where Asian Americans are excluded from diversity-initiatives and used as a reason to attack affirmative action. The yellow peril trope reminds us that Asian Americans are not white (Zhou, 2004), but exclusion from affirmative action reinforces that they are not Black or a racial minority (Wu, 1995). As such, they are rendered invisible. Within social work, the forever foreigner trope is highlighted by research and course readings and case studies highlight Asian Americans as immigrants and refugees with limited English proficiency. This form of micro-aggression perpetuates stereotypes against Asian Americans, and ostracizes students and faculty alike. We aim to provide a forum for social work researchers at different career stages to discuss issues affecting Asian Americans and social work research. Presenters will discuss their racialization experience from different career stages, and with different racialized AAPI identities. They will discuss successful strategies that have supported their professional growth as social work researchers, as well as lingering gaps. Special attention will focus on the role of mentoring, affinity groups, professional networks, and social support. The presenters will facilitate small group discussions with attendees to identify the tools necessary to support AAPI social work research.