"Challenges of Policy and Practice in Under-Resourced Asian American Communities: Analyzing Public Education, Health, and Development Issues with Cambodian American Women"

According to the U.S. Census Bureau's most recent American Community Survey ("ACS"), the growth of the Asian American population has outpaced that of all other racial groups in Massachusetts.From 2000 to 2005, the Asian American population increased by 23%; meanwhile, the Latino and Black populations grew by 14.5% and 6% respectively, and the White population declined by 4%.'Such growth has resulted in ever greater ethnic, socioeconomic, and language diversity for this population, which now includes recent immigrants and refugees of more than forty different ethnicities, together with those who have lived in the U.S. for generations.Limited methods of data collection and interpretation, however, have often portrayed Asian Americans as a homogeneous group, marginalizing important voices and perspectives-such as those of women who are lowincome and speak little English.Such limitations perpetuate misconceptions among policymakers, researchers, and the general public.2 Despite numerous critiques, Asian Americans are still often referred I Assistant Professor of Asian American Studies and American Studies, University of Massachusetts Boston.Tang's research and teaching focuses on war, race, migration and development in contemporary urban U.S. society.She is currently completing a book manuscript on the development and displacement of the Khmer (Cambodian) American community in Revere, Massachusetts.Tang received Honorable Mention as one of the three faculty recognized nationally by the 2004 Ernest A. Lynton Award for Faculty Professional Service and Academic Outreach.The author would like to thank the editors of the Asian American Law Journal, especially Jiny Kim, M. Bob