“Being Asian American Is a Lot Different Here”: Influences of Geography on Racial Identity

Studies on college students’ racial identities seldom focus on geographic context, despite existing research documenting its role in how racial groups construct and express racial identities. Drawing on theories of ecological systems and racial formation, I explored experiences of race and racial identity among 10 Asian American students who migrated from different US regions to attend college in Southern California. Findings indicate contextual influences of geographic location can delimit, constrain, or diversify the ways that students perceive they can express an Asian American identity, suggesting the importance of considering geographic context in student affairs research and practice.