Alone and In Between Cultural and Academic Worlds: Voices of Samoan Students

Authors

Noah E. Borrero, University of San FranciscoFollow
Christine J. Yeh, University of San FranciscoFollow
Patsy Tito
Meryllia Luavasa

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2010

Abstract

In a collaborative research study with a Samoan community leader and a high school student, the authors explored the academic and cultural identities of 10 Samoan high school students. In-depth qualitative interviews revealed the students' struggles with negotiating cultural and academic identities in the ecological contexts of home, peer, teacher, school, and community. Using grounded theory, the authors described the reciprocal, contradicting, and alienating nature of Samoan and academic identities in the face of negative stereotypes, competing relational obligations, and low expectations. Findings and implications also focused on cultural strengths and values such as unity, giving back to the community, and respect.

Comments

Article published in Journal of Education 2009/2010, Vol. 190 Issue 3, p47-55. 9p.

copyright © Trustees of Boston University

For more of Christine Yeh's publications, visit:

http://scholar.google.com/citations?user=WTlSwUQAAAAJ&hl=en

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Christine_Yeh3?ev=hdr_xprf

http://www.bu.edu/sed/about-us/journal-of-education/

Recommended Citation

Borrero, Noah E.; Yeh, Christine J.; Tito, Patsy; and Luavasa, Meryllia, "Alone and In Between Cultural and Academic Worlds: Voices of Samoan Students" (2010). School of Education Faculty Research. 2.
https://repository.usfca.edu/soe_fac/2