Asian Pacific American Cultural Capital: Understanding Diverse Parents and Students

Abstract

The purpose of this chapter is to provide an informed discussion regarding the cultural values that shape the behaviors and achievement of Asian Pacific American (APA) students. Bronfenbrenner's (1979,1986) ecological model of human development is used to explain how many APA families encourage and reinforce educational achievement. A central idea in this chapter is "cultural capital," which refers to the attitudes, expectations, knowledge, and behaviors parents pass on to their children that assist them in succeeding in school and society. To illustrate this central premise, the chapter also employs Sue and Okazaki's (1990) concept of relative functionalism as a key element in Asian cultural capital as it relates to both educational achievement and upward mobility. In addition, the chapter discusses the experiences and educational needs of diverse APA groups (e.g., Chinese, Filipino, Hmong, Japanese, Korean, Lao, Vietnamese, etc.). Though their educational needs may be similar, their social and academic experiences may differ due to various elements such as history and generational levels in the US. The chapter concludes with recommendations for educators to encourage and collaborate with Asian American students and their families. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)(chapter)