Contesting the Last Frontier
Race, Gender, Ethnicity, and Political Representation of Asian Americans
Published on 26. August 2022
Book
Paperback/Softback
288 pages
978-0-19-007768-6 (ISBN)
Description
Women of color, including Asian Pacific American (APA) women, have made considerable inroads into elective office in the United States in recent years; in fact, their numbers have grown more rapidly than those of white women. Nonetheless, focusing only on success stories gives the false impression that racism, sexism, and other forms of oppression are not barriers for APA candidates to public office. It also detracts attention from the persistent and severe under-representation of all women and nonwhite men in elective office in the United States.
In Contesting the Last Frontier, Pei-te Lien and Nicole Filler examine the scope and significance of the rise of Asian Pacific Americans in US elective office over the past half-century. To help interpret the complex experiences of these political women and men situated at the intersection of race, gender, and other dimensions of marginalization, Lien and Filler adopt an intersectionality framework that puts women of color at the center of their analysis. They also draw on their own original dataset of APA electoral participation over the past 70 years, as well as in-depth interviews with elected officials. They examine APA candidates' trajectories to office, their divergent patterns of political socialization, the barriers and opportunities they face on the campaign trail, and how these elected officials enact their roles as representatives at local, state, and federal levels of government. In turn, they counter various tropes, including the "model minority" myth that suggests that Asian Americans have attained a level of success in education, work, and politics that precludes attention to racial discrimination. Importantly, the book also provides a look into how APA elected officials of various origins strive to serve the interests of the rapidly expanding and majority-immigrant population, especially those disadvantaged by the intersections of gender, ethnicity, and nativity. Ambitious and comprehensive, Contesting the Last Frontier fills an important gap in American electoral history and uncovers the lived experiences of APA women and men on the campaign trail and in elective office.
In Contesting the Last Frontier, Pei-te Lien and Nicole Filler examine the scope and significance of the rise of Asian Pacific Americans in US elective office over the past half-century. To help interpret the complex experiences of these political women and men situated at the intersection of race, gender, and other dimensions of marginalization, Lien and Filler adopt an intersectionality framework that puts women of color at the center of their analysis. They also draw on their own original dataset of APA electoral participation over the past 70 years, as well as in-depth interviews with elected officials. They examine APA candidates' trajectories to office, their divergent patterns of political socialization, the barriers and opportunities they face on the campaign trail, and how these elected officials enact their roles as representatives at local, state, and federal levels of government. In turn, they counter various tropes, including the "model minority" myth that suggests that Asian Americans have attained a level of success in education, work, and politics that precludes attention to racial discrimination. Importantly, the book also provides a look into how APA elected officials of various origins strive to serve the interests of the rapidly expanding and majority-immigrant population, especially those disadvantaged by the intersections of gender, ethnicity, and nativity. Ambitious and comprehensive, Contesting the Last Frontier fills an important gap in American electoral history and uncovers the lived experiences of APA women and men on the campaign trail and in elective office.
Reviews / Votes
The book excels especially in its meticulous tracking of this history...a recommended addition to courses on race, ethnicity, politics, and Asian American studies. * A. P. Audette, CHOICE * Lien and Filler offer a truly masterful assessment of Asian American and Pacific Islander elected representation, not only with critical attention to gender, but with an expansive view on historical trends, geographic and ethnic variation, and level of office. This book is bursting with compelling stories, original data, ethnic and racial comparisons, and rich theoretical context. A must-read for students of minority politics. * Janelle Wong, Professor of American Studies and Government and Politics and core faculty member in the Asian American Studies Program, University of Maryland * This empirically rich study greatly expands our knowledge of female Asian American elected officials and makes a major contribution to the study of political incorporation. Lien and Filler have not only created the most extensive current database of APA elected officials but have also assessed the extent to which those officials have contributed to significant empowerment for their communities. An invaluable resource for scholars that will also engage students in the classroom. * Andrew L. Aoki, Augsburg University * Asian Americans are the fastest growing population in the United States, but their political participation has seldom been studied in systematic fashion. Drawing on quantitative and qualitative data, informed by keen theoretical insight, this groundbreaking book explores community activism, regional differences, party affiliations, ethnic organizations, and social justice issues. Particularly welcome is its detailed information about political pioneers, female leaders, generational changes, and the elective offices won in the different Asian American communities. * Franklin Ng, California State University, Fresno * This wonderful book provides an unparalleled understanding of the perspectives and motivations of Asian Pacific American elected officials at all levels of US government. Drawing on in-depth interviews, published profiles and interviews, and a comprehensive dataset of APA elected officials spanning nearly a century, Lien and Filler incisively analyze and illuminate the historical contexts and the racial, ethnic, gender, and social class intersectional challenges faced by these public servants to reveal the critical roles they have played in the ongoing development of the American political order. * Ron Schmidt, Sr., author of Interpreting Racial Politics in the United States *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
New York
United States
Target group
College/higher education
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Unsewn / adhesive bound
Dimensions
Height: 234 mm
Width: 152 mm
Thickness: 17 mm
Weight
413 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-19-007768-6 (9780190077686)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Pei-te Lien | Nicole Filler
Contesting the Last Frontier
Race, Gender, Ethnicity, and Political Representation of Asian Americans
Book
07/2022
Oxford University Press Inc
€121.32
Shipment within 15-20 days
Pei-te Lien | Nicole Filler
Contesting the Last Frontier
Race, Gender, Ethnicity, and Political Representation of Asian Americans
E-Book
05/2022
OUP eBook
€22.99
Available for download
Pei-te Lien | Nicole Filler
Contesting the Last Frontier
Race, Gender, Ethnicity, and Political Representation of Asian Americans
E-Book
05/2022
OUP eBook
€22.99
Available for download
Persons
Pei-te Lien is Professor of Political Science, affiliated with Asian American Studies, Feminist Studies, and Black Studies, at the University of California, Santa Barbara. She is an award-winning author, co-author, and co-editor of numerous publications on the political participation and representation of Asian and other nonwhite Americans.
Nicole Filler was an instructor at Highline College and is currently research coordinator at the Institute for Asian American Studies, University of Massachusetts, Boston.
Nicole Filler was an instructor at Highline College and is currently research coordinator at the Institute for Asian American Studies, University of Massachusetts, Boston.
Content
List of Figures and Tables
Preface and Acknowledgements
Chapter 1: Introduction Chapter 2: Gendered History of Immigration and Political Socialization in the Election of Asians
Chapter 3: Evolution of the Electoral Landscape: Expanding Gender, Ethnic, and Geographic Horizons in Political Representation and Local Incorporation Chapter 4: Getting Connected and Elected with Political Parties Chapter 5: Advancing Justice: From Community Activism to Substantive and Symbolic Representation Chapter 6: Conclusion
Appendices
References
Preface and Acknowledgements
Chapter 1: Introduction Chapter 2: Gendered History of Immigration and Political Socialization in the Election of Asians
Chapter 3: Evolution of the Electoral Landscape: Expanding Gender, Ethnic, and Geographic Horizons in Political Representation and Local Incorporation Chapter 4: Getting Connected and Elected with Political Parties Chapter 5: Advancing Justice: From Community Activism to Substantive and Symbolic Representation Chapter 6: Conclusion
Appendices
References