Outside and In-Between: Theorizing Asian-Canadian Exclusion and the Challenges of Identity Formation

Asian Canadians face challenges in exploring and expressing their self due to a lack of critical writing that addresses their identity, anti-Asian racism, and experiences. Despite the influx of Asian students to Canadian postsecondary institutions, their voices are underrepresented in academic literature. This edited collection provides much-needed theorizing of Asian-Canadian lived experiences, focusing on themes such as multiculturalism, diversity, race, culture, agency, education, community activism, citizenship, identity, model minority myths, gender, colonization, neoliberalism, and others. Contributors include scholars and activists from various fields.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 268 pages
Publication date: 20 October 2022
Publisher: Haymarket Books

Asian Canadians, whether they are immigrants, international students, naturalized citizens, native-born individuals, or others, face significant challenges in their exploration and expression of self due to the scarcity of critical writing that both represents and is written by them. Despite the influx of Asian students to Canadian postsecondary institutions, their representation in academic literature remains strikingly limited. Critical theory that focuses on Asian identity, anti-Asian racism, and the Asian-Canadian experience is either limited or portrayed as an artifact of the past.

The internationalization of higher education continues to surge, particularly in the English-speaking West. 2017 data from the Canadian Bureau for International Education revealed that Canada ranks as the fourth-leading destination for international students seeking post-secondary education. It is widely acknowledged in domestic media that Asia accounts for the majority of international students at Canadian colleges and universities. However, the lived experiences and perspectives of these transnational individuals have yet to be fully explored.

This edited collection serves as a vital contribution to theorizing Asian-Canadian lived experiences, with a particular focus on themes such as multiculturalism, diversity, race, culture, agency, education, community activism, citizenship, identity, model minority myths, gender, colonization, neoliberalism, and other relevant issues. Contributors to this collection include:

Sarah Alam
Syed Fahad Ali
Wallis Caldoza
Valerie G. Damasco
Grace Garlow
Allison Lam
Kailan Leung
Juanna Nguyen
Dionisio Nyaga
Jasmine Pham
Vania Soepriatna
Tika Ram Thapa
Rose Ann Torres

By examining these diverse perspectives, this collection aims to shed light on the complex and multifaceted experiences of Asian Canadians, challenging prevailing narratives and promoting a more inclusive understanding of their diverse identities and experiences.

Dimension: 228 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781642597936