Forever Foreigners or Honorary Whites?: The Asian Ethnic Experience Today [Paperback]

Mia Tuan (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 1999

"Tuan's book is a major contribution to Asian American studies because she lets her respondents speak. . . . Her thesis is clear: that no matter where Asian Americans go they cannot hide from their race and ethnicity. In addition, Tuan provides a picture to how a pan-ethnic Asian American cultural experience emerges not from a common cultural tradition, but through a common experience of racialization. Tuan's book is essential reading for those that conduct research and teach on the experiences of American born Asians."-Journal of Asian American Studies "Forever Foreigners or Honorary Whites? informs the reader of the racialized ethnic experiences as felt and lived by third-plus-generation Chinese and Japanese Americans and California. To question the plethora of 'ethnic options' for Asian Americans, Tuan opens the book with one of the most alarming examples-the Ito D'Amato incident-that blatantly denigrates Americans of Asian descent as 'foreigners.'. . . the analytical contrast between modernizers and traditionalists provides a consistent integrating theme that enhances the book's usefulness in advanced undergraduate or graduate courses."-Social Forces "Mia Tuan investigates the role of ethnicity in the lives of later-generation Asian Americans. As the title suggests, the study engages the debate over the applicability of the white ethnic assimilation paradigm in addressing the experiences of racialized ethnic minorities. Tuan concludes that Asian Americans can choose the cultural practices and values they wish to maintain in their private lives but cannot escape identification in ethnic and racial terms when in public. . . . Tuan's study allows later-generation Asian Americans to convey their experiences. Their stories and opinions provide an understanding of the changes occurring in one segment of contemporary Asian America."-Journal of American Ethnic History "A compelling account of the ongoing acculturation of West Coast Asian Americans and their continuing experience of racism. Mia Tuan uses her sociological skills to paint a disturbing portrait of the hidden and not-so-hidden injuries of race suffered by Californians who have been here form many generations, as well as an early warning of what the future might hold for some of our newest immigrants." -Herbert Gans, Roberts S. Lynd Professor of Sociology, Columbia University "This well-written book advances our understanding of the changing and situational construction of American and ethnic identities by exploring the ways in which multigenerational Asian Americans constitute, express, and transform their identities." -Yen Le Espiritu, author of Asian American Women and Men: Labor, Laws, and Love What does it mean to be an Asian American in the United States today? Are Asian Americans considered "honorary whites" or forever thought of as "foreigners?" Mia Tuan examines the salience and meaning of ethnicity for later generation Chinese and Japanese Americans, and asks how their concepts of ethnicity differ from that of white ethnic Americans. She interviewed 95 middle-class Chinese and Japanese Californians and analyzes the importance of ethnic identities and the concept of becoming a "real" American for both Asian and white ethnics. She asks her subjects about their . early memories and experiences with Chinese/Japanese culture; . current lifestyle and emerging cultural practices; . experiences with racism and discrimination; and their . attitudes toward current Asian immigration. Mia Tuan is an assistant professor of sociology at the University of Oregon.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A compelling account of the ongoing acculturation of West Coast Asian Americans and their continuing experience of racism. Mia Tuan uses her sociological skills to paint a disturbing portrait of the hidden and not-so-hidden injuries of race suffered by Californians who have not been here for many generations, as well as an early warning of what the future might hold for some of our newest immigrants." -- Herbert Gans, Robert S. Lynd Professor of Sociology, Columbia University

"This well-written book advances our understanding of the changing and situational construction of American and ethnic identities by exploring the ways in which multigenerational Asian Americans constitute, express, and transform their identities." -- Yen Le Espiritu, author of Asian American Women and Men: Labor, Laws and Love

From the Back Cover

What does it mean to be an Asian American in the United States today? Are Asian Americans considered "honorary whites" or forever thought of as "foreigners?"

Mia Tuan examines the salience and meaning of ethnicity for later generation Chinese and Japanese Americans, and asks how the racialized ethnic experience differs from the white ethnic experience. She interviewed 95 middle-class Chinese and Japanese Californians and analyzes the importance of ethnic and racial identities and the concepts of becoming a "real" American for both Asian and white ethnics. She asks her subjects about their:

-early memories and experiences with Chinese/Japanese culture;

-current lifestyle and emerging cultural practices;

-experiences with racism and discrimination; and their

-attitudes toward current Asian immigration

Product Details

• Paperback: 216 pages
• Publisher: Rutgers University Press; 1 edition (March 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0813526248
• ISBN-13: 978-0813526249
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.7 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #583,648 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars forever foreigner > honorary white, November 24, 2008

By 

A. Kim (US) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Forever Foreigners or Honorary Whites?: The Asian Ethnic Experience Today (Paperback)

as a forever foreigner born in this country, i could identify with a lot of the stuff in the book and i liked it a lot.

It would be great if she writes another book with the same debate since the make-up of Asian Americans changed quite a bit (at least the ethnic ratio). Majority of her respondents are post-WWII generation Chinese and Japanese Americans in Cali area so their experiences are kind of different from what the younger generation and Asian Americans from other ethnic origins would go through nowadays. for example, most young Asian Americans in college now are not likely identify with the psychological damages of internment.

if she comes up with another book, I'll probably buy it.

3 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Makes me wonder., July 6, 2004

By 

Wes (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Forever Foreigners or Honorary Whites?: The Asian Ethnic Experience Today (Paperback)

It was a very interesting read. In terms of society and personal experiences with Asians, I can say that I have normally assumed that they are foreigners. Though, now thinking back on the relationships and encounters that I have had with Asians, I now realize how incorrect that assumption was.

While the previous poster would be happy in being wrong 34% of the time, I don't see that as an option (using that example, it would say that most of us would have been content earning a D average all through grade school). They clearly missed a very key element of the book. That is, while someone may be American, the overwhelming portion of the population will make a rush judgement based on superficial characteristics (of interesting note, that 66% was down to 45.5% in 2003).

Overall, it was an interesting book, detailing how similar and different growing up "Asian-American" can be. Would have earned 5 stars had it not been dry in some spots.

7 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Very interesting, and yet...., October 17, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Forever Foreigners or Honorary Whites?: The Asian Ethnic Experience Today (Paperback)

This is a sound, solid study of contemporary Asian American identity. Lots to learn. Many interesting sociological findings: for instance, the way in which "ethnic" Asian identity is largely optional, and yet the "racial" aspect of being Asian is obviously not optional, and all that means for these peoples lives. The anecdotes and stories are very compelling, and one can really see how race and ethnicity are nebulous, contested, and ever-changing things.
And yet -- one of the main arguments made by the author is that no matter how long Asians have been in the USA (and Chinese immigrants came a LONG time ago!), Asian Americans are still seen as foreigners, as not "really" American. This is a compelling matter - and yet, on page 38, the author makes a rather startling admission: 66% of Asian-Am's are in fact foreign born! 66%!!! hello?! That means that MOST are indeed foreign born -- so if whites assume that Asians are not "really" from the USA, almost 7 out of 10 times, they will be correct. The same is simply not true for Italian or Irish Americans. This was a major deal to me, and the author just kept repeating and repeating how Asians are always seen as not really American. But when 66% are indeed foreign born, well.....?