When it comes to building friendships in the US, most Asian adults say it’s easier within their own community. In a new study by the Pew Research Center that delves into the shared experience of Asian American daily life, 51% said that all or most of their friends in the US share their ethnicity or are also Asian. .
The survey of more than 7,000 Asian adults living in the US revealed divisions and similarities in the way they view themselves and the broader community.
While 56% of foreign-born Asians said all or most of their friends are also Asian, one generation in the US can make all the difference, according to the study. Only 38% of US-born Asians say that most of their friends are also Asian. Among third-generation Asian Americans, that number drops to 32%.
But when it comes to identifying who is Asian, definitions tend to vary by ethnic group. An overwhelming majority of respondents, 89%, said they consider East Asians to be «Asian»; 88% said they considered Southeast Asians to be «Asian»; and 67% said South Asians fit the definition.
Central Asians, such as Afghans or Kazakhs, were only identified as «Asian» by 43% of Asian adults. South Asians were more likely than other groups to include them in the definition.
But despite differing ideas about who fits under the umbrella, and the fact that only a quarter of Asians say they are informed about the history of Asian Americans, about 60% of those surveyed said that what happens to them to other Asians in the US affects their own lives. . About 70% said they want a national leader who will promote the concerns of the Asian community.
Most community members described the American dream as more than just accumulating wealth or owning a business. Ninety-six percent said that having freedom of choice in living their lives, having a good family life, and retiring comfortably are most important to them.
While the majority of Asian adults surveyed said the American dream is within reach, a quarter said they will never achieve it.