GRSJ224/Model-Minority-Myth

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August 1987 Cover Photo of TIME Magazine, featuring success stories in Asian American academic performance.

The Model Minority Myth in Asian Diaspora

Summary

The “Model Minority” myth refers to a construct in which specific racial groups are perceived to attain a higher degree of success than the rest of the general population. Success, in this respect, is defined typically in a variety of ways, including socioeconomic status, academic achievement, career achievement, relationship successes, and more.

Groups like the Asian Diaspora are commonly affected by this construct, and it is fundamentally problematic for several reasons. Firstly, it puts a mask on the real, pervasive racial challenges that Asian Americans face every day. The myth implies that Asian Americans thrive economically, regardless of their minority status. The common harmful belief is that racial barriers can be overcome with pure grit, and that because it can and has been done, that there are no real disadvantages to being a person of colour. Due to perceived amounts of success, there is also a belief that government or professional intervention is not required to equalize the disadvantages faced by people of colour. [1]

Secondly, although Asian Americans are minorities and people of colour, the model minority myth forces a divide between Asians and other minorities. Asian Americans typically have stereotypes of being “smart, hardworking, and conformist.” [1] Because these stereotypes are not perceived to be harmful, they are generally not seen as problematic. But they are; these stereotypes allow racial divides and complacency to perpetuate, while protecting oppressive systems of white supremacy. As racial tensions between whites and POCs increase, the perceived success of Asian Americans, due to the Model Minority Myth, are often used as the example in favour of whites to highlight that there is no systematic racial discrimination in the West. Prospering Asians are often cited as the poster children for the “American Dream,” proving that POCs are not handicapped by oppressive systems because they have “made it.” [1] However, this is far from the truth.

1. History of the Term/Background

The stereotype of the “model minority” is described by Stacey J. Lee [2] as:

“The model minority stereotype depicts Asian Americans as academic superstars. Images of Asian American math geniuses, computer science experts, and high school valedictorians are ingrained in the minds of Americans. According to the stereotype, Asian Americans are successful in school because they work hard and come from cultures that believe in the value of education. (p. 61)”

The term was first used by sociologist William Petersen in his piece for the New York Times Magazine “Success Story: Japanese American Style”. Initially it was used to describe an idea pertaining to the qualities of Japanese Americans, but has now evolved into a widely controversial term that encompasses all minority groups. [3]

2. Why it is Harmful

2.1 Asian Americans vs. The World

The Model Minority Myth poses harm for communities of POC, because due to this construct, Asian minorities are often left out of conversations around racism, representation, sexuality, and other intersectional aspects. It perpetuates racism within minority groups by facilitating separation between different groups of colour; thus increasing the gaps between the communities. Additionally, the ongoing racism towards Asian groups is often overlooked because of these “desirable” stereotypes. After all—who wouldn’t enjoy being viewed as smart, gifted, or highly achieving? However, racism towards Asians have not died with the emergence of the Model Minority myth; it only masks it. Asian Americans face a disproportionately high amount of housing discrimination, [6] where on average, they are shown 6.6% fewer units compared to their White counterparts.

2.2 Masking The True Racial Challenges for Asian Americans

Despite popular beliefs about the ease of success in the Asian Diaspora, a key finding in a 2017 report of Silicon Valley’s management practices revealed that Asian Americans are among the least likely to be promoted into management and executive levels, even compared to blacks and Hispanics, who traditionally do not benefit from the Model Minority myth. On the other hand, White professionals are promoted into executive and management roles twice as often as Asian Americans. [4]

Some research suggests that “whites see Asian American Men as being unfit for management, because they are stereotyped as passive and weak.” [5]

2.3 Stereotypes

In addition to the external consequences of the Model Minority Myth, many Asian Americans struggle internally with maintaining the image of an Asian stereotype. Discrimination against Asian Americans, even in discreet ways such as microaggressions, affect the relationships between Asian Americans and their peers. The stereotypes are correlated to higher depressive symptoms, increased pressure, and psychological distress in Asian American adolescents who struggle to conform to the image. [7]

3. The Model Minority in the Media

In addition to the appearance of existing in the real world, traditional media portrayals of Asian Americans further maintain the model minority myth and other similar stereotypes. Asians in Hollywood films have been historically under-represented; Asian Americans represent only 1 percent of leading roles in Hollywood, despite being over 6 percent of the population. [8] Any small roles given way to Asian characters typically have them portrayed in stereotypical characters such as the “academically gifted,” the “strict asian parent,” or the “kung fu master,”  further masking realistic narratives of Asian Americans. These toxic media portrayals have lasting effects on public opinions on Asians; a diversified study showed that there was a strong belief that Asian Americans are “exceptional in terms of motivation, college preparedness, and career success,” across the board, with White, Black, Hispanic, and Native American survey participants. [1]

4. Debunking the Myth

The Model Minority Myth is referred to as a “Myth”— the consensus among the academic social science community is that Asian stereotypes are not true, and that grouping the Asian experience into one homogenous narrative is largely detrimental. The Asian Diaspora experience drastically different levels of income, poverty, education, and health insurance coverage within itself, and even more so when compared to other non-Asian racial groups.

4.1 Income Levels

While some Asian subgroups make more income than White, Black, and Hispanic groups, many also make much less than median White incomes.

4.2 Education Outcomes

WhatsApp Image 2019-08-02 at 3.14.01 PM.jpg

Although some Asian American groups may be more educated, many other AAPI (Asian American Pacific Islander) groups get lost within the numbers.

References

  1. Ball, D. (2019). America’s “Whiz Kids”? Ambivalence and the Model Minority Stereotype, Sociological Spectrum, 39:2, pp 116-130.
  2. Lee, S. (2009). Unraveling the Model Minority Stereotype: Listening to Asian American Youth. New York: Teachers College Press.
  3. Petersen, W. (1966). Success Story: Japanese American Style. New York Times Magazine. Retrieved from: http://www.dartmouth.edu/~hist32/Hist33/Petersen.pdf
  4. Chang, M. (2014). “Battle Hymn of the Model Minority Myth.” Pp. 277–282 in The Model Minority Stereotype Reader: Critical and Challenging Readings for the 21st Century, edited by Nicholas D. Hartlep. San Diego: Cognella
  5. Cheng, C. (1996). Masculinities in Organizations.  Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California. Vol 9: pp 213-226.
  6. Turner, M. (2012). Housing Discrimination Against Racial and Ethnic Minorities. U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development. OFfice of Policy Development and Research. Pp 3-12.