Sex Roles

, Volume 59, Issue 5–6, pp 326–336 | Cite as

Engendering Immigrant Psychology: An Intersectionality Perspective

  • Ramaswami Mahalingam
  • Sundari Balan
  • Jana Haritatos
Original Article
First Online:
Received:
Accepted:

Abstract

In this paper, using an intersectionality perspective, we tested the idealized cultural identities model proposed by Mahalingam (Cultural psychology of immigrants. Erlbaum, Mahwah, NJ, pp 1–14, 2006) using a sample of Asian Americans (N = 151). According to the structural model, idealized identities positively relate to ethnic pride, which is positively related to resilience. The data had excellent fit (Comparative Fitness Index = .99). Idealized patriarchal beliefs regarding femininity positively related to model minority pride (b = .34, p < .0001) and idealized patriarchal beliefs regarding masculinity were positively related to model minority pride (b = .29, p < .001). Additionally, model minority pride was positively related to resilience (b = .25, p < .001) which was negatively related to depression (b = −.46, p < .0001). Further, we discuss the significance of the intersectionality perspective in studying immigrants.

Keywords

Model minority myth Gender Marginality John Henryism Asian Americans 
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Copyright information

© Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2008

Authors and Affiliations

  • Ramaswami Mahalingam
    • 1
  • Sundari Balan
    • 1
  • Jana Haritatos
    • 2
  1. 1.Department of PsychologyUniversity of MichiganAnn ArborUSA
  2. 2.Hope LabRedwood CityUSA

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