The beauty of the American ideal lies in its recognition of the diverse tapestry of individual and collective cultural heritages within communities. However, there exists a tendency to oversimplify this richness into monolithic identities, which can lead to unfair stereotypes and misconceptions.

In a 2022 Pew Research analysis, based on dozens of focus groups, participants described the challenges of navigating their own identity in a nation where “Asian” brings expectations about their origins, behavior, and physical self. While there may be shared traits among them, a closer look reveals a mosaic of distinct ethnic and cultural backgrounds rather than a singular monolithic heritage. Such oversimplification can disadvantage certain cultures within the Asian American diaspora, especially in contexts like higher education, where nuanced understanding and recognition of diverse backgrounds and outcomes are crucial.

Reframing the Conversation is a monthly hybrid series. Attendees can join in person at the Hinckley Caucus Room (GC 2018) or virtually on the Reframing the Conversation webpage.

ASL interpretation will be provided and auto-captions will be available. All requests for event access support and other questions or concerns may be directed to edi-events@utah.edu.

Speakers

• Edmund Fong, Ph.D.
  Chair, Division of Ethnic Studies
• Janzell Luika Kim Tutor, M.P.A.
  Director of Advancement, School of Dentistry
  Co-Chair, Asian-Pacific Islander Alumni Affinity Chapter
• Arushi Verma
  U of U Student
• Bom Lee
  U of U Student
• Pheng Lor
  U of U Student