How Asian American and Black American Adults Define Ethnicity, Race, and Nationality: A Qualitative Thematic Analysis

Research on ethnicity, race, and nationality often conceptualizes and measures these identities independently, overlooking their interconnectedness. Perceptions of, and associations among, these identities could differ across racial groups, given distinct migration and racialization contexts in the U.S. Furthermore, nationality has not been thoroughly explored in ethnicity and race research. This study examined how individuals from groups with different migration and racialization histories (i.e., Asian and Black Americans) define ethnicity, race, and nationality. In a cross-sectional survey conducted on Prolific, 299 Asian American and 284 Black American adult participants reported their definitions of ethnicity, race, and nationality using open-ended responses. The definitions were thematically analyzed and reviewed between- and within-group variations. Definitions of ethnicity, race, and nationality shared similarities between samples: ethnicity by cultural components or family and ancestry; race by shared physical, genetic, and biological traits; and nationality by birthplace, belonging, and affiliation. Geographic locations also defined all three identities. However, Asian Americans commonly perceived ethnicity as narrower than race. Black Americans viewed the two identities as interchangeable and more frequently defined race as a social construct. Nationality had more ties to citizenship for Asian Americans than for Black Americans. Improved theorization and measurement of ethnic, racial, and national identity and the explicit inclusion of national contexts when discussing ethnic-racial identities are necessary.