Unveiling the veil: Understanding the intersection of racism and body image among Vietnamese American young adults

Abstract

Asian Americans have experienced persistent gendered racism, racial microaggressions, and orientalism. These factors have contributed to dissatisfaction with their body image and have led some individuals to turn to body modification in order to cope with psychological distress and conform to White beauty standards. However, limited research has explored how Vietnamese Americans—one of the fastest-growing Asian American populations—experience and navigate racial dynamics related to body image, particularly in relation to gender differences and the role of cultural identity. To address this knowledge gap, a qualitative study was conducted to explore the intersection of racism, internalized racism, and body image dissatisfaction, as well as the roles of gender and cultural identity in shaping body image among second-generation Vietnamese American young adults. The study recruited 17 s-generation Vietnamese American adults aged 18–25 using purposive and snowball sampling methods and conducted virtual, semi-structured individual interviews. The research identified five main themes—gendered racism, idolization of White beauty standards, internalized racism, body modification behaviors, and alternative coping mechanisms—along with corresponding subthemes. The study found that all participants encountered some form of gendered racism, and approximately two-thirds of the participants internalized orientalist portrayals of Asian Americans and had insecurities about their Asian physical traits. The findings of this study indicate the importance of understanding the relationship between internalized racism and body image ideals or dissatisfaction. The prevalence of internalized racism can have negative consequences for both the individual and society.