Engendering Immigrant Psychology: An Intersectionality Perspective

In this paper, using an intersectionality perspective, we tested the idealized cultural identities model proposed by Mahalingam (Cultural psychology of immigrants. Erlbaum, Mahwah, NJ, pp 1–14, 2006 ) using a sample of Asian Americans ( N = 151). According to the structural model, idealized identities positively relate to ethnic pride, which is positively related to resilience. The data had excellent fit (Comparative Fitness Index = .99). Idealized patriarchal beliefs regarding femininity positively related to model minority pride ( b = .34, p < .0001) and idealized patriarchal beliefs regarding masculinity were positively related to model minority pride ( b = .29, p < .001). Additionally, model minority pride was positively related to resilience ( b = .25, p < .001) which was negatively related to depression ( b = −.46, p < .0001). Further, we discuss the significance of the intersectionality perspective in studying immigrants.