Exploration of multigenerational mother-daughter relationships by Filipina-Canadian youth using Readers Theatre

Sophia Arellano; Romalie May Agcaoili; Gia Ysabel Ochoa; Angela Jay; Daniella Saldo Amican

doi:10.25071/1929-8471.172

Authors

Sophia Arellano Department of Environmental Studies and Geography, University of Ottawa
Romalie May Agcaoili Daphne Cockwell School of Nursing, Toronto Metropolitan University
Gia Ysabel Ochoa Department of Psychology, York University
Angela Jay School of Media and Design, Algonquin College
Daniella Saldo Amican Seneca Polytechnic College

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.25071/1929-8471.172

Keywords:

Readers Theatre, Youth, identity, arts-based research, mental health stigma

Abstract

This paper shares the testimony of Filipina-Canadian youth participants in the “Asian-Canadian youth identities in a pandemic era: Arts-based research” study led by Dr. Nazilla Khanlou and funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) Insight Grant. Through this study, six youth created a scripted story documenting their experiences as Asian-Canadian youth who navigated the COVID-19 pandemic in a Readers Theatre workshop. Their script, entitled Tita Barbie, is shared in this paper, as well as their general reflections on the experiences shared in the script and as study participants. Key themes identified in the script through this study included mental health stigma, mother-daughter relationships, and stereotypical representation in mainstream media.

Key words: Readers Theatre, youth, identity, arts-based research, mental health stigma.