JAE-IN KIM, PH.D.
RESEARCH
Dr. Kim explores the ways in which individuals from marginalized communities understand their sense of self within contexts of oppression. As a diversity scientist, Dr. Kim builds upon and advances interdisciplinary approaches that acknowledge the systemic effects of racism, highlight the agentic nature of marginalized communities, and center the voices of these communities (e.g., critical race theory, critical adoption studies; see my papers: Kim & Lee, 2020; Lee et al., 2016; Yoo et al., 2018). Dr. Kim engages in two main lines of scholarship. First, they study the ways in which transnationally, transracially adopted individuals navigate the unique challenges of coming to terms with their adoption, their heritage, and their experiences of racialization. Second, they study identity politicization and the development of coalitions, with an interest in supporting collective action between and amongst marginalized communities.
CURRENT PROJECTS
Presently, my work focuses on representing the experiences of transnationally, transracially adopted individuals across the lifespan.
Estrangement in Adoptive Families
The estrangement project explores how adopted individuals and their adoptive families experience estrangement from each other. In partnership with Dr. Amanda L. Baden, we explore questions such as, "What does estrangement look like," "What are the precursors to estrangement," and "How do individuals in strained
Korean Adoption Project
Describe one of your services
Identity and Discrimination
Describe one of your services
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
MEASURING CULTURAL EXPLORATION: DEVELOPMENT OF THE RECULTURATIVE ACTIVITIES SCALE FOR ADOPTED INDIVIDUALS
Kim, A. Y., & Baden, A. L. (2025; Adoption Quarterly)
IT'S COMPLICATED: ADULT ADOPTEES' RELATIONSHIP QUALITY AND CONTACT FREQUENCY IN ESTRANGEMENT
Baden, A. L., Kim, A. Y., Randall, R., Jasmin, M., Kobus, A., Haywood, T., Nsenkyire, K., & Holtz, N. (2025; The Family Journal: Counseling and Therapy for Couples and Families)
COALITIONAL IDENTITY AND COLLECTIVE ACTION: KOREAN AMERICANS FOR BLACK COLLECTIVE ACTION
Kim, A. Y., Lee, R. M., & Zhou, X. (2023; Asian American Journal of Psychology)
UNDERSTANDING ADOPTION AS A REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE ISSUE
Wexler, J. H., Cai, J., McKee, K. D., Blankenau, A., Lee, H., Kim, O., Kim, A. Y., & Lee, R. M. (2023; Psychology of Women Quarterly)
PEOPLE OF COLOR ARE PEOPLE OF ACTION: ASIAN AMERICAN PARTICIPATION IN OWN-GROUP AND AFRICAN AMERICAN-ORIENTED COLLECTIVE ACTION
Kim, A. Y., & Lee, R. M. (2023; Group Processes and Intergroup Relations)
THEORY AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE DIASPORIC IDENTITY SCALE WITH ADOPTED KOREAN AMERICANS
Kim, A. Y., Zhou, X., & Lee, R. M. (2021; Adoption Quarterly)
A CRITICAL ADOPTION STUDIES AND ASIAN AMERICANISTINTEGRATIVE PERSPECTIVE ON THE PSYCHOLOGY OF KOREAN ADOPTION
Kim, A. Y., & Lee, R. M. (2020; The Routledge Handbook of Adoption)
CONCEPTUALIZATION AND MEASUREMENT OF BIRTH FAMILY THOUGHTS FOR ADOLESCENTS AND ADULTS ADOPTED TRANSNATIONALLY
Kim, A. Y., Kim, O. M., Hu, A. W., Oh, J. S., & Lee, R. M. (2020; Journal of Family Psychology)
COMMENTARY: AN ASIAN AMERICANIST PERSPECTIVE ON CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Lee, R. M., Kim, A. Y. J., Zhou, X. (2016; Child Development)
KOREAN ADOPTEE IDENTITY: ADOPTIVE AND ETHNIC IDENTITY PROFILES OF ADOPTED KOREAN AMERICANS
Beaupre, A. J., Reichwald, R., Zhou, X., Raleigh, E., & Lee, R. M. (2015; Adoptees’ Ethnic Identity Within Family and Social Contexts)