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Why are more Filipino-Americans starting to call themselves Pacific Islander?

The Philippines is of course part of Asia. Filipinos in their native country refer to themselves as Asian, the same as people from Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam, Taiwan, China.

But based on some Qs here at YA, it seems that some people of Filipino descent based in the US are starting to call themselves Pacific Islander, which refers to groups of islands in the Oceania not part of the official 7 continents.

Nitpicking aside, what I'm really curious about is what would cause many Filipinos in the US to stop calling themselves Asian and start identifying with the people of Hawaii, Samoa, Tahiti, Guam, New Guinea?

Is it just ignorance? or is there a racial issue here? or did somebody popularize the term?

8 Answers

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  • 1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    Maybe because they have little to nothing in common with the east asians...and definitely nothing in common with the west asians.

  • 1 decade ago

    Well, the reason might simply be that these people define their ethnicity differently – rather than due to ignorance, racial issue, or to popularize the term.

    In most countries a person’s ancestry defines their ethnicity, but in the Philippines it depends instead on context. That means the person may identify themselves according to the spoken language (mother tongue), religion, culture, history, or residence besides genetic origins.

    Hence ethnicity definitions are fluid, and can change according to grouping. So the Filipino-Americans calling themselves Pacific Islanders may be Filipino by ancestry, Pacific Islander according to upbringing and American by citizenship.

  • Anonymous
    5 years ago

    properly, the reason might desire to easily be that those human beings define their ethnicity in yet in a diverse way – particularly than with the aid of lack of expertise, racial subject, or to popularize the term. In maximum countries a individual’s ancestry defines their ethnicity, yet in the Philippines it relies upon rather on context. which ability the guy might perceive themselves in accordance to the spoken language (mom tongue), faith, lifestyle, historic previous, or place of living besides genetic origins. subsequently ethnicity definitions are fluid, and can substitute in accordance to grouping. So the Filipino-individuals calling themselves Pacific Islanders may be Filipino by utilising ancestry, Pacific Islander in accordance to upbringing and American by utilising citizenship.

  • 1 decade ago

    I think some of them want to be unique or they probably think Asians are too dorky to conform with.. Hey I don't see anything wrong with being Asian.

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  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    2 pts!

  • 1 decade ago

    maybe they're ashame to be called American?

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    they want to just glamourize themselves..

    sick isnt it?

  • 1 decade ago

    nit picking is gross.

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