Asian American Panethnicity

Abstract

The Asian American Movement grew out of the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s. This movement is organized based on a model called Asian American panethnicity. Asian American panethnicity describes a concept that places all Asian ethnic groups under one category. Under this model, Asian American organizations have made much progress toward racial equality. However it is unclear how these organizations have fared with gender equality. Historically, racial equality has taken priority over gender equality in Asian American organizations. And yet, because women face substantial barriers to opportunities for self-empowerment and independence, it is important that panethnic organizations focus attention toward women and women's issues. The Asian Pacific American Legal Center (the "Legal Center") will be used for a case study.In the forefront of the Asian American Movement, the Legal Center is a an appropriate organization to study how gender issues may be marginalized in race-based organizations. In this study of the Legal Center, the blatant sexism found in the 1960s, as well as the more subtle forms of gender inequality, will be looked at by analyzing three categories: 1) its work environment, 2) its leadership and 3) the issues and cases they are involved in.