Journal of Ethnic and Cultural Studies

Qiang Costumes in Maoxian, Sichuan Province: The Revival of Chinese Minority Identity for Application in Design

Guangfu Chen, Prathabjai Suwanthada — Sat, 06 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0300

The purpose of this investigation was to fulfill three objectives: (1) to study the characteristics, connotations and reflected history and social development of Qiang costumes; (2) to study and analyze the cultural identity of Qiang Costumes for development into local products and (3) to design products inspired by Qiang Costumes in Maoxian County, Sichuan. The focus community was the Qiang people in Maoxian County, Sichuan Province, with the research population including local government workers, product sellers, design experts, and target consumers. Using a mixed-methods approach that combined qualitative and quantitative methodologies, the researchers gathered data through surveys, interviews, observations, and questionnaires. Results show that Qiang fabrics in Maoxian County are characterized by a number of local patterns, including fire, clouds, and flowers. These are incorporated into a rich and distinctive ethnic clothing identity. The researchers designed five everyday items based on the symbolism of Qiang clothing: a keychain, tableware, a bookmark, a fridge magnet, and a phone case. A questionnaire distributed to the target group found that the general level of consumer satisfaction with the products was at a very good level (x = 4.83). This investigation provides invaluable insights into the interplay between cultural preservation and economic development, highlighting the crucial role of integrating traditional Qiang culture into modern product design strategies.

Unveiling the Veil: Intangible Cultural Heritage and the Filipino College Students

Robert John Pastera — Sat, 06 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0300

This study examined the current knowledge of Filipino college students on the Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) of the Philippines. The study included 75 college students during the academic year 2022-2023. Through a qualitative approach, the students submitted written essays anchored to the research questions. Thematic analysis was employed to analyze the qualitative data, adhering to the stages of open coding, axial coding, and selective coding. The analysis resulted in the surfacing of various themes which are the result of this study: (1) Exposure to art forms, (2) association with indigenous people, (3) essence of values and practices, (4) misunderstandings about ICH, and (5) safeguarding of ICH. Students who came from the provinces experienced ICH through their festivities and local cultures, which are annual celebrations of various communities. There were also students who observed their locality’s people, handicrafts, and even familial behaviors. The presence of various art forms, performances, and experiences with indigenous peoples, and local traditions, regardless of whether it is within their families or communities, and their own knowledge of recent social issues unveiled the opportunities for the students to be exposed to the concept of Intangible Cultural Heritage and safeguard it. The author proposed a recommendation to further study and formulate a probable teaching and learning approach for college students to be more exposed to the Intangible Cultural Heritage of the Philippines.

Public Diplomacy and Democratic Backsliding in Turkey: A Retrospective Look at Government Investment in Soft Power

Vedat Demir — Sat, 06 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0300

This paper discusses the development of public diplomacy policies and their implementation by the Turkish government through aggregate investment data and within the broader regional and global context in which the country’s policies evolved. Its main aim is to show how regime type is interrelated with foreign policy in general and public diplomacy as a branch of it. Turkey is a fruitful case because the country has experienced significant democratic backsliding since 2011, unlike the first period when the Justice and Development Party (henceforth AKP) came to power in 2002. The discussion over the data on budgets of various institutions responsible for adopting public diplomacy policies shows that cultural and educational public diplomacy received a major increase in investment, especially within the last six years, whereas the budgets for other institutions have fluctuated over the last ten years. Although the paper’s purpose was to provide a comprehensive picture of Turkey’s public diplomacy throughout the AKP rule since 2002, its main data source remains limited to the last decade. Thus, the availability and transparency of the data and its indication of the relationship between regime qualities and public diplomacy policies are also noted.

Not a Monolith: Understanding of Racism and Racialization among Korean, Pacific Islander, South Asian, and Vietnamese Women

Sat, 06 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0300

The people within the Asian and Pacific Islander racial/ethnic category used in the United States are often misrepresented as a monolithic group when, in reality, the group includes people from over 48 different countries with diverse cultures, languages, and customs. Asian and Pacific Islander people experience racism and racialization in nuanced ways that are influenced by immigrant generations, histories of colonization, and origin countries’ relationship with the US. This study examines the racialized experiences of Asian and Pacific Islander women in the United States. Focus groups were held with 21 Korean, Pacific Islander, South Asian, and Vietnamese women in the United States to explore their experiences of racism and racialization. Data were analyzed using an iterative coding and theme-generation process. Findings indicate that among these groups, there is a heightened awareness of racism both toward their own racial/ethnic group as well as toward other minoritized populations, a recognition of the importance of solidarity among people of color to combat racism and the difficulties in sustaining solidarity, and nuanced ways in which different Asian and Pacific Islander people navigate their own racialization.

Civil Identity of Young Kazakhstanis in the Context of the Russian-Ukrainian Conflict

Mon, 06 May 2024 00:00:00 +0300

The aim of this study is to conduct a sociological survey to assess the state of civic identity among Kazakhstani youth within the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. It aims to explore the correlation between young citizens' ethnic backgrounds and their acceptance of citizenship. Data was collected through a questionnaire developed by researchers to examine the multifaceted dynamics involved. A total of 754 citizens between 14 and 35 took part in the survey. The findings indicate that, in the present circumstances, the sense of belonging to the state among young Kazakhstanis is primarily contextual, prevailing over other identity constructs when queried about their attitude towards citizenship. However, when measuring the level of identification—how frequently individuals perceive themselves as citizens—ethnic identity takes precedence over civic identity. The survey underscores that ethnic origin stands out as the foremost determinant of social belonging for young people in Kazakhstan in the current scenario. Moreover, this study emphasizes the significant role played by information sources in shaping civic identity. We have elucidated the intricate relationship among ethnic identity, citizenship perception, and contextual factors among Kazakhstani adolescents amidst ongoing geopolitical events using our analytical approach.

Navigating Racialisation and Whiteness: British Turks’ Struggles for Belonging in Multiscale Public Spaces within the UK

Ozge Onay — Mon, 06 May 2024 00:00:00 +0300

This paper explores the complex dynamics of racialization and whiteness within the context of British Turks’ pursuit of belonging in multiscale public spaces in the UK. It examines how these dynamics ultimately lead them to perceive themselves as “non-British” and affirm their place as “Other” within mainstream British society. Based on their experiences in multiscale spatialities, ranging from urban and provincial cities to university campuses and pubs, this study delves into subtle forms of exclusions and stigmatizations tied to differentiated ways British Turks are racialized, revealing how racial identities are constantly reconstructed and contested in these spaces. Based on the discourses of racialization and whiteness emanating from the social and political context in which xenophobia and Islamophobia emerge, the findings highlight the need to consider the intersections of race, ethnicity, culture, and religion in understanding how British Turks constantly question their place and belonging in the UK and confront racial boundaries and different forms of racisms including Islamophobia within various settings in Britain.

The Development of Casta Painting as Visual Genre in New Spain and the Production of Ethnoracial Stereotypes

Laura Catelli — Thu, 09 May 2024 00:00:00 +0300

The aim of this essay is to analyze the ways in which the development of the casta pictorial genre contributed to the production and stabilization of racializing and racist stereotypes. These racial stereotypes still persist in cultural imaginaries in and about Latin America as part of the long duration of coloniality. Casta painting from New Spain is analyzed here as a pictorial genre and as a colonial discourse in connection with situated social and racial concepts, such as Creole, caste, and calidad. The analysis develops through a dialogue with perspectives from Semiology of Art, Visual studies, Postcolonial studies, and Latin American Critique of Coloniality. In this regard, this essay intends to create a conversation among different disciplines and fields of study in order to develop a complex, transdisciplinary approach to a problem from colonial times: the production and circulation of ethnoracial stereotypes and their impact on social relations, lived experiences, and subjectivities.

Effects of Language Learning Strategies on Teaching Toponyms and Folk Geography Terms in Kazakh and Nogai Languages

Tue, 14 May 2024 00:00:00 +0300

The study investigates the effect of language learning strategies in teaching toponyms in Kazakh and Nogai languages on students' achievement and attitudes. The study was conducted at a university's literature faculty in Astana, Kazakhstan, during the academic year 2023-2024, using an experimental research model. The experimental and control groups of the study consisted of 69 students studying in the 2nd grade at the Kazakh Literature Department in Astana, Kazakhstan. In the experimental group, Kazakh and Nogai toponyms were taught using language learning strategies, while the control group was taught using the lecture method. Experimental implementations lasted for six weeks in both groups. The data was collected using the Kazakh Toponymy Achievement Test, the Nogai Toponymy Achievement Test, and the Attitude Towards Activities Scale. The results showed that the experimental group students achieved higher levels of success in Kazakh and Nogai toponyms and developed positive attitudes towards the activities compared to their peers in the control group. Consequently, two recommendations emerged from the findings. First, teaching programs should be developed for effective language learning strategies in literature and language classes. Second, guidebooks and worksheets that exemplify language learning strategies in Kazakh and Nogai toponym subjects, in particular, and in literature courses, in general, should be created.

Ethno-Cultural Identity Formation in Mapuche Youth Biographies: A Case Study from the Perspective of Colonial and Transgenerational Historical

Gabriela Garcés Pérez, Johanna Sagner-Tapia, Ana M. Alarcón — Sun, 26 May 2024 00:00:00 +0300

In this paper, we present evidence from a case study exploring the intricate relationship between transgenerational historical and colonial trauma and the process of ethno-cultural identity formation among young Mapuche individuals residing in rural communities in Chile. Our analysis centers on two prominent themes derived from their personal narratives, shedding light on the intergenerational dynamics that significantly influence the current development of their ethno-cultural identities. These themes are the communication and transmission of family history and memory, and the valuation of Mapuche culture. Our methodology employs biographical narratives and adopts a grounded theory approach, specifically in its constructivist variant. The findings of this study reveal that the biographies of these young individuals reflect distinct elements of emotional impact and coping strategies linked to historical and colonial trauma, which are transmitted across generations. In one case, there appears to be a tendency to conceal family history, while in the other, active preservation of memory seems to underpin reflections on identity, belonging, and the appropriation of Mapuche culture. Furthermore, our analysis highlights the significance of emotional connections with family, as well as individual expectations and future aspirations, which play pivotal roles in shaping motivations and expressions concerning Mapuche ethno-cultural affiliation or disassociation. We contend that these intricate dynamics mediate the formation of ethno-cultural identity among Mapuche young people.

Consequences of Immigration for Families: Structure, Culture, and Relationships

Aysun Dogutas — Sun, 26 May 2024 00:00:00 +0300

Qualitative research, including in-depth interviews with adults and drawings by children, was used to examine and evaluate changes and transformations in the family structures of immigrants living in Denizli and Aydın after migrating to Turkey because of political pressure and war. The research involved eight immigrant parents and 14 elementary school students. Despite limitations in scope and number of participants, this study was designed to contribute to the literature. Its findings show that although immigrants are satisfied and happy with their migration to Turkey, they have endured some negative effects. Some of these negative effects are unemployment, language barrier, being away from their home country, and also migration hurts immigrants economically, bringing with it negative social effects on immigrants’ status and economic class.

Factors of Ethnic Distance: A Systematic Scoping Review

Miha Šlebir, Rok Zupančič — Tue, 11 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0300

Identifying factors determining ethnic distance is a perennial quest in ethnic studies. This is important not only from a theoretical perspective but also as a basis for developing practical interventions aimed at decreasing ethnic distance, which could, in turn, lead to increased tolerance and social peace. Building on existing research, we conducted a systematic scoping review of 30 studies to identify prevalent factors and variables that significantly impact individuals’ ethnic distance. According to our study, the most relevant variables are gender, education, income, age, interethnic contact, war experience, following news in the media, religious commitment, religious denomination, and political orientation. The analysis has shown that these variables can be grouped into four distinct factors: sociodemography, exposure, religion, and politics. However, none of the factors and variables identified were found to be universally applicable, as the cause of ethnic distance is multifactorial and context-dependent. We mapped the characteristics of existing studies, focusing on any indication of psychological mechanisms driving the changes in interethnic (in)tolerance. Most of the studies reviewed were based on the Bogardus scale, a commonly used tool for measuring ethnic distance.