Dr Rebecca King O'Riain

    Sociology, Social Sciences Institute (MUSSI)

    Associate Professor

    Auxilia House
    3.4
    (01) 708 3941

    Biography

    Rebecca Chiyoko King-O'Riain is a senior lecturer in the department of Sociology with research interests in: globalization, popular culture, emotions and technology; racial/ethnic beauty pageants (Pure Beauty - University of Minnesota Press); critical race theory; qualitative methods; interracial marriage and multiracial people (Global Mixed Race - New York University Press). Her current research explores globalized interpersonal and interactive forms of bodily culture through skin altering practices in Asia and Europe, beauty pageants (for more on beauty pageants listen here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w3cswrld), and Asian popular culture (Korean and Japanese popular music and dramas). For a recent piece on Kpop see here: https://www.rte.ie/eile/brainstorm/2018/0208/939201-its-music-not-missiles-which-is-shaping-the-worl...

    Research Interests

    Globalization, emotions and technology; racial/ethnic beauty pageants, critical race theory; qualitative methods; interracial marriage and multiracial people, skin altering practices (beauty) in Asia and Europe, Japanese and Korean popular culture

    Research Projects

      Project Role Funding Body / Program Description Start Date End Date Award (€)
    H2020 travel support Rebecca King O'Riain PI EU Horizon 2020 National Support Network / Travel Assistance 07-OCT-15 07-JUL-16
    Publication Award for 'Global Mixed Race' PI National University of Ireland / NUI / Publication Grant Scheme 18-SEP-13 17-SEP-14
    A-Pop: the Transcultural Wave of Asian Popular Culture PI National University of Ireland, Maynooth / Eochair Scheme Eochair funding application approved 01-FEB-18 01-FEB-19

    Books

      Year Publication
    2014 Global Mixed Race.
    King-O’Riain, Rebecca Chiyoko; Small, Stephen; Mahtani, Minelle; Spickard, Paul; and Song, Miri. (2014) Global Mixed Race. : New York University Press. [Details]
    2006 Pure Beauty: Judging Race in Japanese American Beauty Beauty Pageants.
    King-O'Riain, Rebecca Chiyoko (2006) Pure Beauty: Judging Race in Japanese American Beauty Beauty Pageants. : University of Minnesota Press. [Details]

    Book Chapters

      Year Publication
    2019 'Mixed-Race Japanese American Millennials Millennials or Japanese Americans?'
    King-O'Riain, RC (2019) 'Mixed-Race Japanese American Millennials Millennials or Japanese Americans?' In: JAPANESE AMERICAN MILLENNIALS: RETHINKING GENERATION, COMMUNITY, AND DIVERSITY. PHILADELPHIA: TEMPLE UNIV PRESS. [Details]
    2018 'Public multiculturalism and/or private multiculturality?'
    King-O’Riain R.C. (2018) 'Public multiculturalism and/or private multiculturality?' In: Routledge Handbook of Cultural Sociology: Second Edition. [DOI] [Details]
    2017 'Cherry Blossom Dreams: Racial Eligibility Rules, Hapas and Japanese American Beauty Pageants'
    Rebecca Chiyoko King-O'Riain (2017) 'Cherry Blossom Dreams: Racial Eligibility Rules, Hapas and Japanese American Beauty Pageants' In: Duncan Ryuken Williams (eds). Hapa Japan. California: Ito Center Editions Kaya Press. [Details]
    2016 'Transnational media networks and the 'migration nation''
    Kerr A.;King-O'Riain R.;Titley G. (2016) 'Transnational media networks and the 'migration nation'' In: Migrations: Ireland in a global world. [Details]
    2014 ''Going home' to where the heart is: Mixed international families in the Republic of Ireland'
    King-O'Riain R. (2014) ''Going home' to where the heart is: Mixed international families in the Republic of Ireland' In: The 'Irish' Family. [DOI] [Details]
    2016 'Purity, Racial'
    Dr Rebecca Chiyoko King O'Riain (2016) 'Purity, Racial' In: The Wiley Blackwell Encyclopedia of Race, Ethnicity, and Nationalism. [DOI] [Details]
    2015 'Transkonnektiver Raum, Emotionen, und Skype: Binationale Paare in Irland'
    Dr Rebecca Chiyoko King O'Riain (2015) 'Transkonnektiver Raum, Emotionen, und Skype: Binationale Paare in Irland' In: Die Ambivalenz Der Gefuhle. Springer. [Details]
    2015 ''Going home' to where the heart is Mixed international families in the Republic of Ireland'
    King-O'Riain, RC (2015) ''Going home' to where the heart is Mixed international families in the Republic of Ireland' In: IRISH FAMILY. ABINGDON: ROUTLEDGE. [full-text] [Details]
    2015 'Multiracial'
    Dr Rebecca Chiyoko King O'Riain (2015) 'Multiracial' In: Keywords in Asian American Studies. New York University Press. [full-text] [Details]
    2015 '“‘Going home’ To Where The Heart Is: Mixed International Families in the Republic of Ireland.”'
    Dr Rebecca Chiyoko King O'Riain (2015) '“‘Going home’ To Where The Heart Is: Mixed International Families in the Republic of Ireland.”' In: The 'Irish' Family. Routledge. [full-text] [Details]
    2013 '“Transnational Media Networks and the ‘Migration Nation’”'
    Dr Rebecca Chiyoko King O'Riain (2013) '“Transnational Media Networks and the ‘Migration Nation’”' In: Migrations: Ireland in a Global World. Manchester, UK: Manchester University Press. [full-text] [Details]
    2013 'Transconnective space, emotions, and skype: The transnational emotional practices of mixed international couples in the Republic of Ireland'
    King-O'Riain R. (2013) 'Transconnective space, emotions, and skype: The transnational emotional practices of mixed international couples in the Republic of Ireland' In: Internet and Emotions. [DOI] [full-text] [Details]
    2012 'Is no one as Irish as Barack O'Bama?'
    King-O'Riain, RC (2012) 'Is no one as Irish as Barack O'Bama?' In: OBAMA AND THE BIRACIAL FACTOR: THE BATTLE FOR A NEW AMERICAN MAJORITY. BRISTOL: POLICY PRESS. [full-text] [Details]
    2011 'Media Perspectives on Chinese Migrants in Ireland'
    King-O'Riain, RC (2011) 'Media Perspectives on Chinese Migrants in Ireland' In: GLOBALIZATION, MIGRATION AND SOCIAL TRANSFORMATION: IRELAND IN EUROPE AND THE WORLD. ALDERSHOT: ASHGATE PUBLISHING LTD. [full-text] [Details]
    2010 '“The Experience of Discrimination in Ireland: Evidence from Self-Report Data”'
    King-O'Riain, Rebecca Chiyoko (2010) '“The Experience of Discrimination in Ireland: Evidence from Self-Report Data”' In: Making Equality Count: Irish and International Research Measuring Equality and Discrimination. Dublin: Liffey Press. [full-text] [Details]
    2010 '“Post-Culture Wars Visions of Multiculturality”'
    King-O'Riain, Dr, Rebecca Chiyoko (2010) '“Post-Culture Wars Visions of Multiculturality”' In: Handbook of Cultural Sociology. New York: Routledge. [Details]
    2009 'Beauty Queens'
    King-Ó Riain, Rebecca Chiyoko. (2009) 'Beauty Queens' In: Encyclopedia of Women's Folklore and Folklife. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press. [full-text] [Details]
    2008 '“Beauty Pageants”'
    King-O'Riain, Rebecca Chiyoko (2008) '“Beauty Pageants”' In: The Greenwood Encyclopedia of Contemporary Asian American Issues. Westport, CT, USA: Greenwood Publishing Group. [Details]
    2008 'Miss China Ireland'
    King-Ó Riain, Rebecca Chiyoko (2008) 'Miss China Ireland' In: Belongings: Shaping Identity in Modern Ireland. Dublin, Ireland: Irish Public Administration. [full-text] [Details]
    2006 'Re-Racialising the Irish State through the Census, Citizenship, and Language'
    King-Ó Riain, Rebecca Chiyoko (2006) 'Re-Racialising the Irish State through the Census, Citizenship, and Language' In: Race and State. Cambridge Scholars Press. [full-text] [Details]
    2005 'Miss Cherry Blossom Meets Mainstream America:'
    King-Ó Riain, Rebecca Chiyoko (2005) 'Miss Cherry Blossom Meets Mainstream America:' In: East Main Street:Asian American Popular Culture. New York: New York University Press. [full-text] [Details]
    2004 'Tracing Race to a Multiracial Majority in the Japanese American Community'
    King-Ó Riain, Rebecca Chiyoko (2004) 'Tracing Race to a Multiracial Majority in the Japanese American Community' In: The Politics of Multiraciality. New York: State University of New York Press. [Details]
    2002 'Eligible to be Japanese American: Counting on Multiraciality in Japanese American Basketball Leagues and Beauty Pageants'
    King, Rebecca Chiyoko (2002) 'Eligible to be Japanese American: Counting on Multiraciality in Japanese American Basketball Leagues and Beauty Pageants' In: Contemporary Asian American Communities: Intersections and Divergences. Philadelphia: Temple University Press. [Details]
    2001 'Mirror, Mirror on the Wall: Mapping Discussions of Feminism, Race and Beauty on Mixed Race Japanese American Women'
    King, Rebecca Chiyoko (2001) 'Mirror, Mirror on the Wall: Mapping Discussions of Feminism, Race and Beauty on Mixed Race Japanese American Women' In: The Sum of Our Parts: Mixed-Heritage Asian Americans. Philadelphia: Temple University Press. [Details]
    1996 'Changing Face, Changing Race: The Making and Remaking of Race in the Japanese American and African American Communities'
    King, Rebecca Chiyoko and DaCosta, Kimberly McClain (1996) 'Changing Face, Changing Race: The Making and Remaking of Race in the Japanese American and African American Communities' In: The Multiracial Experience: Racial Borders as the New Frontier. Newbury Park, CA: Sage Publications. [full-text] [Details]

    Peer Reviewed Journals

      Year Publication
    2020 '“They were having so much fun, so genuinely . . .”: K-pop fan online affect and corroborated authenticity'
    Rebecca Chiyoko King-O'Riain (2020) '“They were having so much fun, so genuinely . . .”: K-pop fan online affect and corroborated authenticity'. New Media and Society, [DOI] [Details]
    2019 'How the Irish Became More Than White: Mixed-Race Irishness in Historical and Contemporary Contexts'
    Rebecca Chiyoko King-O'Riain (2019) 'How the Irish Became More Than White: Mixed-Race Irishness in Historical and Contemporary Contexts'. Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, [DOI] [Details]
    2018 'What’s Love Got To Do With It? Emotional Authority and State Regulation of Interracial/national Couples in Ireland'
    King-O’Riain R. (2018) 'What’s Love Got To Do With It? Emotional Authority and State Regulation of Interracial/national Couples in Ireland'. Journal of Intercultural Studies, 39 (4):494-509 [DOI] [full-text] [Details]
    2016 'Enduring or crossing distance for love? Negotiating love and distance in the lives of mixed transnational couples'
    King-O'Riain R. (2016) 'Enduring or crossing distance for love? Negotiating love and distance in the lives of mixed transnational couples'. Sociological Research Online, 21 (1) [DOI] [full-text] [Details]
    2015 'Emotional streaming and transconnectivity: Skype and emotion practices in transnational families in Ireland'
    King-O'Riain, RC (2015) 'Emotional streaming and transconnectivity: Skype and emotion practices in transnational families in Ireland'. Global Networks, 15 :256-273 [DOI] [full-text] [Details]
    2008 'Making the Perfect Queen: The Cultural Production of Identity in Beauty Pageants'
    King-O'Riain, Rebecca Chiyoko (2008) 'Making the Perfect Queen: The Cultural Production of Identity in Beauty Pageants'. SOCIOLOGY COMPASS, 2 :74-83 [full-text] [Details]
    2008 'Target earning/learning, settling or trampolining? Polish and Chinese immigrants in Ireland'
    King-O'Riain R. (2008) 'Target earning/learning, settling or trampolining? Polish and Chinese immigrants in Ireland'. Irish Geography, 41 (2):211-223 [DOI] [full-text] [Details]
    2007 'Counting on the ' Celtic Tiger ' - Adding ethnic census categories in the Republic of Ireland'
    King-O'Riain, RC (2007) 'Counting on the ' Celtic Tiger ' - Adding ethnic census categories in the Republic of Ireland'. Ethnicities, 7 :516-542 [DOI] [full-text] [Details]
    2000 'Racialization, Recognition and Rights: Lumping and Splitting Multiracial Asian Americans and the 2000 Census'
    King, Rebecca Chiyoko (2000) 'Racialization, Recognition and Rights: Lumping and Splitting Multiracial Asian Americans and the 2000 Census'. JOURNAL OF ASIAN AMERICAN STUDIES, 3 :191-217 [full-text] [Details]
    1997 'Multiraciality Reigns Supreme? Mixed Race Japanese Americans and the Cherry Blossom Queen Pageant'
    King, Rebecca Chiyoko (1997) 'Multiraciality Reigns Supreme? Mixed Race Japanese Americans and the Cherry Blossom Queen Pageant'. AMERASIA JOURNAL, 23 :113-128 [full-text] [Details]
    1996 'Changing Face, Changing Race, The Remaking of Race in the Japanese American and African American Communities'
    Rebecca Chiyoko King and Kimberly McClain DaCosta (1996) 'Changing Face, Changing Race, The Remaking of Race in the Japanese American and African American Communities'. The Multiracial Experience: Racial Borders as the New Frontiers, [full-text] [Details]

    Other Journals

      Year Publication
    2015 'Celtic Connections – Ireland’s Global Families'
    Dr Rebecca Chiyoko King O'Riain (2015) 'Celtic Connections – Ireland’s Global Families' International Sociological Association - Global Dialogues, ISA . [Details]

    Published Reports

      Year Publication
    2010 Broadcasting in the New Ireland-Mapping & Envisioning Cultural Diversity Broadcasting.
    Titley, Gavan, Kerr, Aphra and King O Riain, Rebecca (2010) Broadcasting in the New Ireland-Mapping & Envisioning Cultural Diversity Broadcasting. Broadcasting authority of Ireland, Dublin. [full-text] [Details]

    Book Review

      Year Publication
    2011 review of Caitríona Ní Laoire, Fina Carpena-Méndez, Naomi Tyrrell and Allen White, “Childhood and Migration in Europe: Portraits of Mobility, Identity and Belonging in Contemporary Ireland.”.
    King O'Riain, Dr Rebecca Chiyoko (2011) review of Caitríona Ní Laoire, Fina Carpena-Méndez, Naomi Tyrrell and Allen White, “Childhood and Migration in Europe: Portraits of Mobility, Identity and Belonging in Contemporary Ireland.”. Book Review [Details]
    2010 Review of Aoki, Andrew and Takeda, Okiyoshi. “Asian American Politics”.
    King O'Riain, Dr Rebecca Chiyoko (2010) Review of Aoki, Andrew and Takeda, Okiyoshi. “Asian American Politics”. Book Review [Details]
    2009 Gendered Work in Asian Cities: The New Economy and Changing Labour Markets.
    King Ó Riain, R.C. (2009) Gendered Work in Asian Cities: The New Economy and Changing Labour Markets. Book Review [Details]
    2006 Colorado's Japanese Americans: From 1886 to the present.
    King-O'Riain, RC (2006) Colorado's Japanese Americans: From 1886 to the present. CHAMPAIGN: Book Review [Details]
    2006 Review of Bill Hosokawa. Colorado's Japanese Americans: From 1886 to the Present.
    King Ó Riain, Rebecca Chiyoko (2006) Review of Bill Hosokawa. Colorado's Japanese Americans: From 1886 to the Present. Book Review [full-text] [Details]
    2003 Japanese American Celebration and Conflict: A History of Ethnic Identity and Festival 1934-1990.
    King Ó Riain, Rebecca Chiyoko (2003) Japanese American Celebration and Conflict: A History of Ethnic Identity and Festival 1934-1990. Book Review [full-text] [Details]
    2002 Relative/Outsider: The Art and Politics of Identity Among Mixed Heritage Students.
    Chiyoko King Ó Riain, Rebecca (2002) Relative/Outsider: The Art and Politics of Identity Among Mixed Heritage Students. Book Review [Details]
    2001 Shades of Citizenship: Race and the Census in Modern Politics.
    King Ó Riain, Rebecca Chiyoko (2001) Shades of Citizenship: Race and the Census in Modern Politics. Book Review [Details]

    Gov. Report or Document

      Year Publication
    2009 The Experience of Discrimination in Ireland: Analysis of the QNHS Equality Module.
    Russell, Helen; Fran McGinnity; Rebecca Chiyoko King-O’Riain; and Emma Quinn (2009) The Experience of Discrimination in Ireland: Analysis of the QNHS Equality Module. Gov. Report or Document [full-text] [Details]

    Magazine Article

      Year Publication
    2016 Global Love on Skype.
    Dr Rebecca Chiyoko King O'Riain (2016) Global Love on Skype. Magazine Article [Details]

    Magazine Article

      Year Publication
    2020 What Parasite tells us about life in modern Korea.
    Rebecca Chiyoko King-O'Riain (2020) What Parasite tells us about life in modern Korea. Magazine Article [Details]
    2019 The Irish Angle to the Rise and Rise of K-pop.
    Rebecca Chiyoko King-O'Riain (2019) The Irish Angle to the Rise and Rise of K-pop. Magazine Article [DOI] [Details]
    2018 K-pop - music, not missiles, is shaping the worldview of Korea.
    Rebecca Chiyoko King-O'Riain (2018) K-pop - music, not missiles, is shaping the worldview of Korea. Magazine Article [Details]

    Newspaper Articles

      Year Publication
    1999 Defining Japanese American.
    King-Ó Riain, R.C. (1999) Defining Japanese American. Newspaper Articles [Details]
    1997 Taking the Beauty Out of Beauty Pageants.
    King-Ó Riain, R.C. (1997) Taking the Beauty Out of Beauty Pageants. Newspaper Articles [Details]

    Technical Publication

      Year Publication
    2010 Broadcasting In the New Ireland: Mapping and Envisioning Cultural Diversity.
    Titley, Gavan, Aphra Kerr and Rebecca Chiyoko King-O’Riain (2010) Broadcasting In the New Ireland: Mapping and Envisioning Cultural Diversity. Technical Publication [full-text] [Details]
    2006 Polish Migrant Workers in Ireland.
    K. Kropiwiec and R. King-Ó Riain (2006) Polish Migrant Workers in Ireland. Technical Publication [full-text] [Details]
    2006 Chinese Students in Ireland.
    Y. Yun Wang and R. King-Ó Riain (2006) Chinese Students in Ireland. Technical Publication [full-text] [Details]
    1998 “Intermarriages and Hapas” Nikkei Heritage.
    Kich, G., King-Ó Riain, R.C. and Shinagawa, L. (1998) “Intermarriages and Hapas” Nikkei Heritage. Technical Publication [Details]

    Honours and Awards

      Year Title Awarding Body
    2020 Japan Foundation Japanese Studies Fellowship Grant Japan Foundation
    2003 IRCHSS Postdoctoral Fellowship Trinity College Dublin

    Professional Associations

      Association Function From / To
    American Sociological Association member /
    Sociological Association of Ireland member /
    Association of Asian American Studies member /
    World Association of Hallyu Studies Ireland - regional president /

    Employment

      Employer Position From / To
    University of San Francisco Assistant/Associate Professor 03-SEP-95 / 01-JAN-04

    Education

      Year Institution Qualification Subject
    1998 University of California Berkeley PhD Sociology

    Teaching Interests

    Structures of Inequality, Research Methods, Research Design for PhD Students, Race/Ethnicity, Social Worlds of Children, Beauty and Popular Culture