Social Work Commons^™

“Why Do They Have To Laugh At Me?”: Stereotypes And Prejudices Experienced By Immigrant Youth, Darlene Rodriguez, Lina Tuschling, Paul Mcdaniel

Faculty and Research Publications

When immigrating to a new host country, the overall integration process for immigrant youth and refugees can be taxing, as experiences with prejudice and discrimination are likely to occur. This article highlights the role of contact and social identity in reducing biases such as stereotypes or prejudice for immigrant youth using the contact hypothesis. Then, we apply the contact hypothesis to twenty-five essays written by immigrant youth in Atlanta, Georgia, and analyse the essays in order to understand their attitudes and emotions before, during, and after the migration process. Further, the article addresses immigrant youth expectations and challenges during the …