Books by Bhoomi K Thakore
How does the media influence society? How do media representations of South Asians, as racial and... more How does the media influence society? How do media representations of South Asians, as racial and ethnic minorities, perpetuate stereotypes about this group? How do advancements in visual media, from creative storytelling to streaming technology, inform changing dynamics of all non-white media representations in the 21st century? Analyzing audience perceptions of South Asian characters from The Simpsons, Slumdog Millionaire, Harold and Kumar, The Office, Parks and Recreation, The Big Bang Theory, Outsourced, and many others, Bhoomi K. Thakore argues for the importance of understanding these representations as they influence the positioning of South Asians into the 21st century U.S. racial hierarchy. On one hand, increased acceptance of this group into the entertainment fold has informed audience perceptions of these characters as “just like everyone else.” However, these images remain secondary on the U.S. Screen, and are limited in their ability to break out of traditional stereotypes. As a result, a normative and assimilated white American identity is privileged both on the Screen, and in our increasingly multicultural society.
Routledge, 2016
This volume explores and clarifies the complex intersection of race and media in the contemporary... more This volume explores and clarifies the complex intersection of race and media in the contemporary United States. Due to the changing dynamics of how racial politics are played out in the contemporary US (as seen with debates of the "post-racial" society), as well as the changing dynamics of the media itself ("new vs. old" media debates), an interrogation of the role of the media and its various institutions within this area of social inquiry is necessary. Contributors contend that race in the United States is dynamic, connected to social, economic, and political structures which are continually altering themselves. The book seeks to highlight the contested space that the media provides for changing dimensions of race, examining the ways that various representations can both hinder or promote positive racial views, considering media in relation to other institutions, and moving beyond thinking of media as a passive and singular institution.
Papers by Bhoomi K Thakore
Journal of Diversity in Higher Education, 2016
This qualitative study used narrative methodology to investigate what becoming a scientist or eng... more This qualitative study used narrative methodology to investigate what becoming a scientist or engineer entails for Asian and Asian American college students stereotyped as “model minorities.” We present the narratives of 23 high-achieving science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) college students who self-identified as Asian or Asian American as they focused on the social contexts in which they encountered racialized bias in their academic environments. This study was guided by epistemological and methodological assumptions and beliefs, which influence how the data were interpreted, analyzed, and reported and were based on a 5-step phenomenological research design. Results included how these students experienced, negotiated, challenged, and managed distress from externally imposed stereotypes. The students constructed personal narratives mediated by symbolic cultural systems to make meaning of their experiences, which more often disputed than confirmed the model minority stereotype. This research has larger implications for STEM college education programs throughout the United States, which should not simply accept the normalization of successful Asian STEM students without robust understanding of the stereotypes they endure.
This qualitative study used narrative methodology to investigate what becoming a scientist or eng... more This qualitative study used narrative methodology to investigate what becoming a scientist or engineer entails for Asian and Asian American college students stereotyped as “model minorities.” We present the narratives of 23 high-achieving science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) college students who self-identified as Asian or Asian American as they focused on the social contexts in which they encountered racialized bias in their academic environments. This study was guided by epistemological and methodological assumptions and beliefs, which influence how the data were interpreted, analyzed, and reported and were based on a 5-step phenomenological research design. Results included how these students experienced, negotiated, challenged, and managed distress from externally imposed stereotypes. The students constructed personal narratives mediated by symbolic cultural systems to make meaning of their experiences, which more often disputed than confirmed the model minority stereotype. This research has larger implications for STEM college education programs throughout the United States, which should not simply accept the normalization of successful Asian STEM students without robust understanding of the stereotypes they endure.
In the 21st century, representations of South Asians in American popular television have increase... more In the 21st century, representations of South Asians in American popular television have increased significantly. However, there has been very little critical analysis on the ways in which these characters are created and produced. In this review, I use literature from the sociology of race/ethnicity, immigration, and critical media studies to identify the concept of "(ethnic) characterization." While it may be assumed that these representations are created unconsciously, I suggest that media producers intentionally use particular ethnic characteristics that are identified and discussed in contemporary sociological literature. As a result, I argue that these types of media characterizations are relevant to the discipline of sociology.
As the internet has become an integral part of everyday life, it is understood that patterns of r... more As the internet has become an integral part of everyday life, it is understood that patterns of racial stereotyping and discrimination found in the offline world are often reproduced online. In our paper, we examine two exclusionary practices in an online environment for adult toy collectors: First, the exclusion of non-white individuals who are expected to form immediate friendships with other non-white members; and second, the essentializing of racial issues when concerns over the lack of racial diversity in the toys are discussed. This dismissal is often directly connected to non-white members' decisions to no longer participate, resulting in a new form of segregation within virtual space.
Academic medicine : journal of the Association of American Medical Colleges, Jan 15, 2015
The Academy for Future Science Faculty (the Academy) is a novel coaching intervention for biomedi... more The Academy for Future Science Faculty (the Academy) is a novel coaching intervention for biomedical PhD students designed to address limitations in previous efforts to promote faculty diversity. Unlike traditional research mentoring, the Academy includes both group and individual coaching, coaches have no research or evaluation roles with the students, and it is based on social science theories. The authors present a qualitative case study of one of the coaching groups and provide statistical analyses indicating whether one year in the Academy effects students' perceptions of the achievability and desirability of an academic career. The authors tested (July 2012-July 2013), with Northwestern University ethical approval, the Academy via a longitudinal randomized controlled trial. Participants were 121 latter-stage biomedical PhD students. The authors collected data via questionnaires, interviews, and meeting recordings. The case study shows how group career coaching can effectiv...
Ubiquitous technology theoretically allows for the creation of a global classroom with students e... more Ubiquitous technology theoretically allows for the creation of a global classroom with students engaging scholars, activists, and other professionals from around the world. Technical and pedagogical issues, however, can result in less-than-effective presentations that in turn result in negative learning outcomes. Using a case study approach, we discuss the key considerations, common pitfalls, and outcomes of using Skype to facilitate a guest lecture with three presenters in three different locations.
BMC medical education, 2014
Approaches to training biomedical scientists have created a talented research community. However,... more Approaches to training biomedical scientists have created a talented research community. However, they have failed to create a professional workforce that includes many racial and ethnic minorities and women in proportion to their representation in the population or in PhD training. This is particularly true at the faculty level. Explanations for the absence of diversity in faculty ranks can be found in social science theories that reveal processes by which individuals develop identities, experiences, and skills required to be seen as legitimate within the profession. Using the social science theories of Communities of Practice, Social Cognitive Career Theory, identity formation, and cultural capital, we have developed and are testing a novel coaching-based model to address some of the limitations of previous diversity approaches. This coaching intervention (The Academy for Future Science Faculty) includes annual in-person meetings of students and trained faculty Career Coaches, alo...
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Books by Bhoomi K Thakore
Papers by Bhoomi K Thakore