Document Type
Honors Project
Abstract
International students from China account for the largest number of international students in the United States. Behind their vast and growing population lies the legacy of U.S. soft power diplomacy to spread democracy during the Cold War era, while a similar strategy has been utilized by the Chinese government for students to “represent China.” However, Chinese international students now stand on the intersection between COVID-19 xenophobia and the contentious U.S.-China relationship. How do these individuals navigate and (re)orientate their identities when they are pulled to opposite directions? This study utilizes one-on-one interviews with 22 Chinese international students from a small liberal arts college in the Midwest to explore this question. Using W.E.B. Du Bois’ concept of double consciousness, I argue that Chinese international students develop a “triple consciousness” with two external and competing gazes from the U.S. and China, and one internally conscious self. The findings suggest that the students develop an ambivalent self that forms more nuanced self-consciousness to reflect on the state gazes. The study provides a lens into how historical xenophobia and Cold War legacies shape the contemporary Chinese international student within the current U.S.-China debate while illustrating opportunities for individual autonomy to exist outside of those state ideologies.
Recommended Citation
Gao, Haoxuan, "“Triple Consciousness”: How Chinese International Students Navigate Identity Amidst U.S-China Tension and COVID-19 Xenophobia" (2024). Sociology Honors Projects. 75.
https://digitalcommons.macalester.edu/soci_honors/75
Included in
© Copyright is owned by author of this document
Comments
A huge thank you to my advisor, Dr.Christina Hughes!