FSS-DSOC Luncheon Seminar 2026 Spring#2 & Mini-Methods Meeting (M3)

Borrowing insights from classical race theories, intersectionality perspectives, and postcolonial frameworks, this study is among the first to offer a quantitative analysis of gender differences in experiencing microaggression among ten Asian ethnic groups in the United States. Using data from the 2016 National Asian American Survey, the largest and most recent nationally representative sample of Asian Americans, we examine the consequences of the widespread perception of “Asian female favoritism” within the context of White patriarchal structures. Our findings reveal both universal and particularistic patterns. On the one hand, Asian males are consistently more likely to experience subtle discriminatory behaviors compared to their female counterparts (universalism). However, gendered spheres of microaggression also emerge: for instance, Asian females are disproportionately targeted by assumptions about their English proficiency. Furthermore, robust differences arise at the intersection of gender, ethnicity, and geopolitical region, highlighting the importance of contextual factors (particularism). These results challenge simplistic narratives of favoritism and underscore the need for nuanced understandings of how systemic biases operate across diverse communities. Implications for addressing racialized and gendered inequalities are discussed.