Otherhood: Tracing Childhood in Korean American Literature for Youth

In this dissertation, I explore the ways in which childhood is represented in three Korean American narratives for youths: An Na's "the Fold," Lyla Lee "I'll Be the One," and Tae Keller's "When You Trap a Tiger"--to theorize the concept of "Otherhood," that is, a childhood in which the experience of being Othered is fundamental to a young person's evolving identity formation and sense of power. I analyze how one's identity makes a profound impact on their process of growth while their ontological awareness, sense of community, and heritage contribute to their empowerment as an Other. Following this analysis, I apply my understanding of "Otherhood" to teaching and examine the ways in which diverse literature for youth has mediated my teaching practices and theorize a pedagogical framework to build a safer and more equitable learning environment where students can learn about social justice issues and work toward creating a change in our culture. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]