Reference no: EM132243214

As part of this course, you are expected to conduct ethnographic interviews with two 2nd generation Korean Americans (18 yrs and older), who have been involved in transnational experiences, activities or activism. This project's goal is to examine how and why 1.5 and 2nd generation Korean Americans are involved in various kinds of transnational activities and activism.

As you are well aware of, some Korean Americans continue or re-establish their transnational relationships while others break their links to their parents' homeland and orient themselves to their country of residence. Since there has been little documentation about Korean American transnationalism, the collection of rich life stories will aid in understanding this growing population.

In this qualitative research, you are interested in the "how" and "why" of answers, not simple "yes" and "no." In some cases, it may be necessary to pursue the answers further, and ask for elaboration. Through this process, you will learn and develop qualitative research skills and methods.

Your paper should analyze and include the two interviews with your personal experience. You are expected to discuss your findings with the literature from class.

In conducting field research you will need to observe IRB (Institutional Review Board) protocol that are designed to protect that rights of those who become the "human subjects" of your research. It is imperative that we uphold these as well as your own ethical standards as we conduct research.

1. Cover the assigned readings on the research methodology as a way to be familiar with in- depth interviews.

2. You can start with a research question that you think you might be able to explore locally or come up with the research focus. You may be inspired by your reading.

3. This step is optional: You may find an on- or off-line short text that is related to something about the topic that already intrigues you - before or after you conduct your ethnographic interviews. You may offer a short analysis and incorporate in your paper.

4. Identify and make an appointment with your potential interviewees and obtain their permission.

5. Conduct interviews skillfully and transcribe/translate and type the interviews. Take detailed notes on interview settings, facial expressions, mannerisms, impression, attitude, response, interaction, mood, etc., based on your own observation.

Later, you are expected to transcribe and type the interviews. Without rich ethnographic evidences, it is hard to write a good paper.

6. You are expected to use the prompt (interview questions), but feel free to add, delete, modify, or customize those questions.

7. Write a report about your interviews that you conducted that is in some way related to the question you began to explore.

8. Please discuss your findings in relation to at least 3 of the readings from the course. How do your findings relate to (confirm, refute, extend, challenge) the findings/arguments of class readings.
You may also feel free to relate to readings that were not assigned.

--As an interviewee, your identity will remain confidential and we will be using pseudonyms. --We will be recording this interview with your permission.

It will be helpful to record, but you have the option of asking us not to be recorded. Do we have your permission to record this interview? [pause. Wait for an Answer]. Also, if you would like anything to NOT be included for documentation purposes, please let us know either during or at the end of the interview and we will make changes accordingly.

--During the interview, I will be taking some notes, which means I may be looking down from time to time while listening to your story.

For the interview, I will be asking a series of questions. Please feel free to provide as much details as possible. If any of the questions need to be clarified, please feel free to stop me at any time. I will also be asking additional questions as our interview goes along. If you don't feel comfortable elaborating on a particular experience, please let me know as well and we will move onto the next question.

That being said, do you have any questions before we start?

Demographic Information

INTERVIEWEE (pseudonym or alias): Name: in the neighborhood of ... E-mail address (for future contact): Phone #:

Age: Gender: Marital status: Sexual orientation:

Education: Occupation: Income: Parents' occupation: Father

Migratory Background

Mother:

1. Where were you born? Probe: When did you move to the United States (if applicable)?

Length of residence in Los Angeles/CA: Immigration/Citizenship Status:

2. Where did you grow up? (If you moved around a lot, please describe where you mostly resided growing up.) Probe: Please describe the community in which you grew up: mostly White, mostly Asian American (which ethnicity), mostly Latino, or mostly African American, or was it quite diverse? If diverse, which ethnicities was the community made-up of?

3. Did you participate in ethnicorganizations while growing up, such as church/temple, community centers, cultural performances, etc.? Probe: Did you associate mostly with friends from school or from your ethnic community while you were in school? Or both?

4. Where did you attend college? Probe: Did you associate with Koreans/Asian Americans at college? Why? Probe: Where did you attend graduate school (if applicable)? In what subject(s)?

5. What part does religion play, if a tall, in your everyday life?

I: Social Relation

1. Are there expectations from your family or community(or your own expectation) on how you go about your home life, such as what you eat, how you decorate, etc.? Do you feel you've lived up to those expectations?

2. How often do you cook Korean food? How often do you go out to eat it?

3. Why do you live/not live with your parents? Probe: How often do you talk to your family? [Thinking about the last conversation you had with your parents], what did you talk about? How does being Korean American affect how you approach a conversation?

4. Do you think your relationship with your family members is similar to your friends', co- workers', or members of the community's?

5. [For women] how does being a woman shape the expectations of your home life? Probe: What does being male or female mean? What standards are you held to? What are the empowering possibilities or restrictions associated with any of these male or female roles? What are the major differences in how men and women are raised in the Korean American community? What are your thoughts on these
differences? In your opinion are there differences in being an American female vs. a Korean American female/American male vs. Korean American male?

6. What percentage of your friends is Korean American? Other Asian Americans? Other minorities? Whites?

7. Are you religious? Are your Korean American friends religious(i.e., Christian)?

8. What did you do the last time you saw your friends? What do you typically do with your friends?

9. Do activities ever feel different based on the ethnic background? Example?

10. Thinking about your two or three close friends, what leads you to feel close to them?

11. Thinking of the last time you talked to your friends, what did you do talk about? Does ethnic background ever come up? Probe: Do you think you approach the conversation differently if you are talking to a Korean American versus a non- Korean American? Example?

12. Tell me about some of the people you would turn to if you need some help. Probe: Advice, support, financial helps, other; Who are these people, including ethnic/racial background of friends and family members?

13. For socializing, how important are Korean American family and community events?

14. Do you belong to any clubs or organizations (ethnic or non-ethnic)? If so, what kinds of activities are you involved in? Probe: Are you a part of any Korean American community organization? What organization(s) do you belong to? What do you like about these organizations?

15. Is it important for immigrants to participate in mainstream organizations, or simply ethnic ones? Why? Probe: Do you think that there needs to be a common bond between ethnic groups in the United States, or do you think that each group can focus mostly on its own needs?

II: Identity and Culture

1. When you think about yourself, do you usually think of yourself as an/a...? American female, Asian American female, Korean American female, Female American of Korean origin, other; American male, Asian American male, Korean American male,

Male American of Korean origin, other Probe: Why did you choose this label...?

If you chose this (or other label, above), can you recount specific incidents that made you realize your "difference/distinctiveness" from other "Americans?" What does your Korean American background mean to you? How has that changed over time?
2. How do you identify yourself and with which community: Korean American, Asian American, People of Color, Multiracial, or American? Probe: Has your community identification changed over the years?

3. Has being a member of an ethniccommunity helped or hindered you (personally or professionally)? Probe: What are some of the advantages and disadvantages of your parents' social networks or those of Korean American community?

4. Have you ever felt ashamed of your background? Why/why not? Example of what happened?

5. Do you feel a tension between being American and being Korean American? [If yes] when does that tension come up? How did/do you deal with the tension? Did you notice any differences between the way your family lives as Korean Americans from the other Korean Americans?

6. Have you ever faced personal hostility or discrimination(glassceiling,rice ceiling, bamboo ceiling, etc.) because of your race, ethnicity, or gender/sexual orientation in school, stores, restaurants, clubs, by a police officer, etc.? Probe: [If yes] what is the cause of it? If so, how did you deal with it? What is the best way to combat discrimination?

Is discrimination a problem for other groups? How were you treated during interactions with the police (when you were pulled over)? (over citations, vehicle stops, or arrests?)

7. Do you want to maintain your heritage? Why/why not? How can you do this? Probe: Is it important for your kids to learn about race and ethnicity? Why? How would you teach children? If it were up to you, do you think it is important to maintain ties with people in the Korean American community? Why/why not? How do you connect?

8. What television shows do you watch or what movies have you seen lately? Probe: Have you ever been reminded of your ethnicity while watching? Example? What is your favorite music artist? What would you like to read (fiction/nonfiction)? How were you exposed to and consume Korean culture such as K-pop's as well as home- country media? Probe: On "consumption" of music, drama, movie, fashion, game, cartoon, cosmetics, other things.

9. Do you follow the news in Korea? Do you pay special attention to news that pertains to Asian Americans who is not Korean American?

10. Do you practice Korean/Korean American culture [what does this mean?]? In what way? What Korean/Korean American cultures that you practice/observe is most important to you? Which events or practices hold most meanings?

11. Do you see Korean/Asian culture being practiced in the US? What are the most visible symbols of Korean culture? Which aspects are emphasized the most?

12. What are the differences and similarities between Korean Americans and other Asian Americans?

Do you find the label Asian American relevant to you? Why/why not? Probe: On the relationship/position of Korean/Chinese/Japanese/ Vietnamese/Filipino/Indian. Points of similarity or conflict.

13. Do you frequently go out to Koreatown? How often and for what purposes (e.g.,church, grocery, restaurant/bar, noraebang, community event, etc.)?

14. In your opinion how do you see your generation positioned politically-in the US, Korea, or elsewhere?

15. Do you feel like you are part of the Korean American community? Why or why not? What suggestion(s) do you have for the future of the Korean American community?

16. Tell me about any other issues that are important to you(that we may not have discussed at all) that will help me understand your perspective better.

III: Biographical Account:

We are interested in your biographical story, your relationship with South Korea (interchangeably with Korea) and your family and friend(s) there. "We would suggest that you start with an experience or a story from your early childhood that can describe your connection to Korea."

Consider the following questions, for instance: -When and how did you first become aware of the presence of Korea or the
Korean national flag, (the taegeuk flag)?

-What was it like when you first visited Korea? -How did you feel when you saw all the people that were connected to you, did they [Korea] resemble you?

IV: Transnational Connections (5 Types): -Continuity -Detachment/Disruption - Reconnection due to an event

-One's own network of relationships (including one's own Korea in literature, arts, music, and building one's own) -Being Korean/Korean American in the U.S. (living in the context of the Korean American family, friends and associations in the U.S., without any direct social networks and interactions to Korea)

• Mobility (physical movement): reason, length, frequency, etc. What are the second generations' perceptions of their parent's homeland? How do they learn about and visit their parents' homeland? -visit -study -employment -activism -living

• Communications (non-physical contacts): reason, length, frequency, etc. How do they interact with their family, kin, friends, co-workers, employers, etc.?

-phone, Kakao Talk, Skype

-e-mails -text -mails -fax -messenger

• Exchanges (reason, amount, frequency, etc.) -money

-gifts -medicine/herb -information/idea -managing property -caring -guardian -other services
Transnational Practice/Activities

• Economic Activities -remittance

-lending or borrowing money -other financial transaction -overseas account

-overseas property -overseas business or branch office -trade (import/export) -franchise business (transnational Korean corporation) -(for parents being company (transnational Korean corporations) transferee in the U.S.), What are their experiences with transnational Korean (or other country) corporations?

• Socio-Cultural Practice -Transnational civil society or social movement -Educational matter for study in Korea for parents' education in the U.S. -Religious matter for parent's being religious leader -Mission trip(s)

• Political Activities -to participate in politics such as an election in Korea -to organize support groups for politicians in Korea -advocating for issues related to promoting U.S- Korea relations awareness, United States policies toward Korea, and developments on the Korean peninsula.

• Different modes of transnational lifestyles -Transnational split household -Rotating 2 or 3 countries

In addition, what about their dream, and future plan on transnational activities? V: Systematic account of People and Sites

To gather more systematic data about the networks (people) and the sites by Drawing (two types of visual data)

Ego-Centric Network Maps

1. Do you have any connections with family in other parts of the world, specifically in Korea? (Name the countries around the world where your family resides ...) How do you stay connected?

Why are these connections important? or Are they unimportant? What kinds of opportunities or obstacles do you encounter in maintaining these ties? Do you think some of these ties will wither away with time? Probe: Extent of knowledge of relationships and who is significant.

2. Drawing; Divide the map into three areas: family, work, friends and leisure; 4 concentric circles indicating how important or how near a person is to the respondents; -to annotate the people who are important to them and for their relationship with Korea on the network map, while imagining themselves at the center of the map -discussing the network, accompanying drawing.