Honors Theses and Capstones

Date of Award

Spring 2023

Project Type

Senior Honors Thesis

College or School

COLA

Department

Women's and Gender Studies

Program or Major

Women's and Gender Studies

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts

First Advisor

Monica Chiu

Second Advisor

Holly Cashman

Abstract

Sparked by the COVID-19 pandemic, the author began to notice that the newest wave of Asian-American Pacific Islander (AAPI) activism was not inclusive of transracial adoptees, or people adopted by parent(s) of a different race. This study explores the unique identity of transracial adoptees specifically from China. The author explores the topics of identity, family, friends, community and overall belonging through the lens of primary and secondary sources. The primary sources include seven, hour-long interviews that the author conducted herself. Overall, the study concludes that transracial adoptees have a qualitatively different experiences than non-adopted peers that – although an incredibly under-researched perspective – perfectly demonstrated the immensely nuanced experiences of those who feel marginalized within a greater marginalized community.

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