American-born Chinese
Encyclopedia
An American-born Chinese or "ABC" is a stereotype that describes a person born in the United States
of Chinese
ethnic descent, a category of Chinese American
. Many are second-generation (parents who are naturalized U.S. citizens) born after the U.S. Immigration Act of 1965 were free from limits on immigration from East Asia
. It can be used as a "compliment" for Chinese who are very knowledgeable about America's culture, or as an insult for Chinese who have "lost their pride" from their parent's country. When used pejoratively, the term serves as a device to discriminate and separate Chinese-Americans as a class different from those born in Chinese speaking countries. However, this sort of categorization oversimplifies the social realities and identities of many Chinese-Americans. It is often overlooked that innumerable Chinese-Americans are still connected to their parents' heritage, and it perhaps too quickly valorizes an attachment to an ancestor culture in favor of assimilation and integration within a new one.
Note that in Australia, this acronym may also be used to refer to Australian Born Chinese.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
of Chinese
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
ethnic descent, a category of Chinese American
Chinese American
Chinese Americans represent Americans of Chinese descent. Chinese Americans constitute one group of overseas Chinese and also a subgroup of East Asian Americans, which is further a subgroup of Asian Americans...
. Many are second-generation (parents who are naturalized U.S. citizens) born after the U.S. Immigration Act of 1965 were free from limits on immigration from East Asia
East Asia
East Asia or Eastern Asia is a subregion of Asia that can be defined in either geographical or cultural terms...
. It can be used as a "compliment" for Chinese who are very knowledgeable about America's culture, or as an insult for Chinese who have "lost their pride" from their parent's country. When used pejoratively, the term serves as a device to discriminate and separate Chinese-Americans as a class different from those born in Chinese speaking countries. However, this sort of categorization oversimplifies the social realities and identities of many Chinese-Americans. It is often overlooked that innumerable Chinese-Americans are still connected to their parents' heritage, and it perhaps too quickly valorizes an attachment to an ancestor culture in favor of assimilation and integration within a new one.
Note that in Australia, this acronym may also be used to refer to Australian Born Chinese.
See also
- Demographics of the United StatesDemographics of the United StatesAs of today's date, the United States has a total resident population of , making it the third most populous country in the world. It is a very urbanized population, with 82% residing in cities and suburbs as of 2008 . This leaves vast expanses of the country nearly uninhabited...
- List of Chinese Americans