The Collapsing and Reclaiming of Subjectivity: Asians in the United States

The lack of mentalization of Asian American experiences has contributed to a collapsing of subjectivity within psychoanalysis and broader society. Racism directed against Asian Americans is often minimized or dismissed. This paper explores psychoanalytic perspectives on the invisibility, dissociation, and repression of Asian American experiences, the problem of homogenization, and the discomfort with multiplicity within the United States. Drawing on clinical vignettes and research findings, the author describes how subjectivity is collapsed and reclaimed, with an emphasis on the experiences of Indian Americans.