When I hear the phrase “Asian American”, I usually imagine people like myself, who have become a blend of American and Asian culture. These people are usually very connected to both cultures, and are 2nd or 3rd generation immigrants who have not yet fully assimilated into American culture. These are the majority of Asian Americans I have met and what I have seen most pop culture references relate to. To me, being an “Asian American” encompasses my personal identity and perspective of myself. I have never felt completely Asian or American, so having this term has allowed me to feel understood, and when I am represented in Youtube videos or comedians, I have been able to identify with this group. With the intricacies of Asian and American culture, I have seen myself represented in upcoming forms of media that harp on familial versus societal expectations …show more content…
As a history major studying American history, much of the curriculum has not focused on groups like women, minorities, and other underrepresented groups. Through studies on advertising and cultural history, I have grown an interest in cultural history from a ground up perspective on people who are usually forgotten. By remembering these previously forgotten communities, it has given me a greater understanding and interest in history, which Asian American studies revolves around. Also, being Asian American is a major part of my personal identity which makes it even more important for me to understand history through this perspective. Prior to this course, I did not know much about Asian American studies. I assumed it was similar to Women’s Gender Studies where we would study this group specifically because they are usually placed on the sidelines of mainstream history. I also thought it was similar to African-American studies as they are normally grouped together at the university