Articulating Asianness: Young Asian Dutch and non-homeland Asian popular media

This study explores Asian Dutch young people’s ethnic-cultural identification in relation to their media consumption, and specifically their consumption of popular media from Asian countries other than their country of origin. A survey was conducted among 486 Asian Dutch (18-35 years old). In concurrence with previous research on ethnic minorities it is found that young Asian Dutch identify with multiple ethnic-cultural ‘groups’. Besides hostland (Dutch) and homeland (e.g. Chinese) ethnic-cultural identification they also engender novel pan-ethnic Asian ethnic-cultural identification. Furthermore, it is found that young Asian Dutch articulate their Asian ethnic-cultural identification through the consumption of popular media from Asian countries other than their homelands. This study contributes to a more complete understanding of ethnic-cultural identification and popular media options that young ethnic minorities have by breaking away from the traditional hostland/homeland dichotomy.