My Research Project – Noelani Conahan

I’m working on a project with Professor Victor Mendoza looking into the role of people of  color in the colonization of the Philippines during the early 20th century, with the goal of examining possible links between colonialism, gender, and sexuality. Professor Mendoza has chosen to focus this examination on Asian and Pacific Islander communities, and hopes to gather additional insight by analyzing the work of author Sui Sin Far, an influential Chinese American author from that time period. This work will hopefully provide a deeper understanding of ongoing colonial impact and its role in how we experience other social identities. Professor Mendoza also hopes to generate increased awareness towards and understanding of the history surrounding the Spanish-American war and US colonization of the Philippines. 

Research ethics will have an essential and ongoing role in my experience with this project. As a mostly white mixed person (white and Chinese) who regularly passes as white, it’s important that I do my best to remain mindful of my role in the collection of data surrounding the colonial participation of people of color. I’m a privileged individual examining racial and colonial dynamics I’m inherently limited in my understanding of, and I’d like to do my best to accurately and fairly present my findings and minimize any bias I hold. I’ve grown up being socialized as a white person and received an education that paid little attention to colonial power structures, and even less to modern racial inequities. It is my responsibility to make sure I show up in the best way possible for this research, and work to be as objective as possible.