Applying Sociological Concepts to the Lives of Chinese Americans

Student Instructions
Chinese Americans/Sociological Concepts & History

1.Use your textbook to locate the following sociological concepts and define them using your own words:

Minority group
Culture
Ethnicity
Discrimination
Stereotype
Cultural pluralism
Subjugation
Legal discrimination
Institutionalized discrimination

2.Enter the St. Louis Virtual City Website, enter the 1950’s Decade an locate information pertaining to Chinatown and its residents. Pay particular attention to the life of Annie Leong. Take notes to share with group members.

3.Divide into your groups.

4.Answer and discuss the following questions with your group members:

How did Chinese Americans preserve their culture?
IN what ways did they become assimilated?
Name both legalized and institutionalized discrimination faced by the Chinese immigrants to St. Louis.
What roles did religion; family, education, work and recreation play in their everyday lives?

5.Construct a questionnaire for a living Chinese American who experienced live in St. Louis in the 1950’s. Be certain to address above issues as covered on the Website. Each group should have about five questions.

6.After interview your group will create a character sketch of a “typical Chinese American teenager” growing up in St. Louis in the 1950’s. Think about clothes, family life, religion, schools, entertainment, etc.