Abstract:
In a collaborative research study with a Samoan community leader
and a high school student, the authors explored the academic and
cultural identities of 10 Samoan high school students. In-depth
qualitative interviews revealed the students' struggles with negotiating cultural and academic identities in the ecological contexts
of home, peer, teacher, school, and commxmity. Using grounded
theory, the authors described the reciprocal, contradicting, and
ahenating nature of Samoan and academic identities in the face of
negative stereotypes, competing relational obhgations, and low
expectations. Findings and implications also focused on cultural
strengths and values such as unity, giving back to the community,
and respect
