As an educator teaching students at a Christian liberal arts institution, I have asked this question to myself many times: How can I see my students’ recent infatuation with K-entertainment as an opportunity for deeper learning? More broadly, how might Christian communities respond to this obsession with K-entertainment?
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Although they are underrepresented in Christian higher education, faculty of color are overrepresented among those teaching the diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) courses – at times, the single DEI course – within their department. For faculty of color, there are rewards and challenges that come with the responsibility of teaching DEI courses. In this 3-part series of posts, we provide a reflection highlighting the professional and personal journeys of three faculty of color from diverse backgrounds (Asian, Black, and Latino) from Seattle Pacific University. In doing so, we hope to share stories that will validate the experiences of other faculty of color working in Christian institutions. At the same time, we also expect that these stories will provide rich and nuanced perspectives to counter the homogenizing narrative of faculty of color that are often perpetuated.
Given the lack of studies on the racialized experience of Asian American faculty in Christian higher education, the current study investigated Asian American Christian faculty’s experiences of stereotypes and discrimination and their responses to those experiences. Using the Consensual Qualitative Research method, we analyzed nine interviews with Asian American Christian faculty. Major themes that emerged were the experience of stereotypes and discrimination at the interpersonal level, perpetuation of stereotypes and discriminatory practices at the institutional or systemic level, responses to stereotypes and discrimination, coping with stereotypes and discrimination, and the impact of Asian identity, stereotypes, and discrimination.
This study suggests that having compassion on oneself can aid in developing a positive attitude toward professional counseling among Asian American college students. Helping people increase their self-compassion holds much promise for addressing the problem of Asian Americans not seeking professional services because of cultural influences.