Asian Perspectives During COVID: Stereotypes and Model Minority Myth
In April to June 2021, in collaboration with the UCSF Asian Health Institute and Asian Health Caucus, we sent out a survey to the Asian community. This is the third part of our results! You can read our introduction post here, and our previous posts on Anti-Asian Violence and American Media Portrayal.
In the survey, we asked the respondents on how they felt about the impact of the “Model Minority” stereotype on Asians in America and in the follow up questions asked about their thoughts on the Model Minority myth and how it has affected them.
Most respondents feel that the Model Minority stereotype has a negative impact on Asians in America. A lot of them pointed out that this myth silences the Asian community, masks the systemic racism against the community, and harms Asian Americans’ mental health. The most prominent themes that people expressed are being ignored, desire for fairness and justice, and confusion about how to fit in. Many Asians feel that their own experience including their struggles and hard work are not validated. They are treated with microaggressions and are pitted against people of color due to false assumptions from the myth. Also, they are experiencing pressure from high expectations put on by their families, co-workers, friends, and/or the public, and struggling between being obedient and speaking up.
Background
For those unfamiliar with the model minority myth, it is a myth and stereotype among Americans that characterizes Asian Americans as hard-working and successful (source 1, source 2) . Historically speaking, it was a myth that was initially constructed as a way to defund social programs for minority communities by using anecdotal evidence of Asians that have done well while neglecting those that haven’t.
Along the way, the model minority myth has contributed to unrealistic expectations and mental health issues within the Asian community, wiping out diversity and minimizing inequities among Asian ethnicity, and driving a wedge between Asians and other racial groups (source 1, source 2, source 3). More information about the myth can be found in the links attached.
Themes on Model Minority Myth
From the 141 respondents that answered the question on Model Minority myth, we extracted a total of 13 common themes. We list some of the top themes below and in bold fonts connected themes mentioned.
Stereotyping/Overgeneralization (44): The myth has created a single and narrow view on Asians, neglecting the fact that this community consists of subgroups of different ethnicity, cultures and languages. This stereotype has led to silencing all Asians and invalidating their struggles (43), making the whole community invisible and leaving the issues unseen. There are always high expectations (6) for Asians as they are thought to be good at school and have a successful life. However, this may provide them with a less supportive environment and harm their mental health when they are struggling to live up to their expectations.
Silencing towards Asians/Minimizing struggles/Reduces Aids towards Asians (43): Many people pointed out that the public has assumptions about Asians such as being good at math and science, and succeeding because of being ‘Asian’. This has resulted in microaggressions from others and harms allyship with other races (37). There is a feeling that the public has ignored the contribution Asian Americans have made in history. Asians are forced not to speak about their struggles and hard work, and they are left out by the public when talking about support and aid.
Harmful to Allyship with Other Races (37): The Model Minority stereotype pits Asian Americans against other minorities and people of color by depicting them to be excellent and more successful - that the secret of success is just ‘working harder’. This ignores the complex social situations faced by each individual including Asian Americans, leading to self loathing, mental anguish and harming allyships. In some cases, the myth may lead to some Asians feeling superior and discriminating against other minorities. This perpetuates systemic oppression as it prevents Asians Americans from working with other races.
Harmful to Self and Own Group Mental Well-being (33): Some Asians may feel excess pressure from internalizing this stereotype and struggling to live up to the high expectations. Some people think that the stereotype is a double edge sword (6): e.g. it helps them get the job but it also prevents them from leadership (bamboo ceiling). The supervisors may see them as perpetual foreigners (9), not really belonging, even if they have been living in the country for a long time or through multiple generations. The “model minority” narrative compels them to provide an acceptable view of their Asianess or Americaness and forces them to consider whether they should forgo their cultures and assimilate (19).
Encourage White Supremacy and Systemic Racism (22): To avoid the conflict with others, some people may choose to maintain silence and be obedient to fit in the mainstream. The stereotype has neutralized their ability to advocate for their justice. The community will continue being left out when talking about discrimination if no one fights to break the stereotype.
Select Quotes (click to expand)
+ Theme: Stereotyping / Overgeneralization
" The Model Minority myth is an overgeneralization of the Asian American experience. This myth puts everyone in the Asian category into the same box. Asians and Asian Americans include many different ethnicities, cultures, languages/dialects, and subgroups. The Model Minority is a barrier for people to truly seek to understand our individual lived experiences. "
" Groups within the Asian community are vastly different and they all come with their own struggles that differ from the model minority. Not all immigrants are poor, or super rich and educated, or any one stereotype. Every human being has a different experience. "
" I find the Model Minority myth (MMM) to be distasteful and stereotypical because as a Southeast Asian person myself, I have struggled both academically and financially in order to support myself and my family. "
" It negatively impacts Asians by wiping out many ethnicities from the narrative, and also harms us by giving an impression that we are unemotional, meek, and uncreative. "
"It is truly a myth. Someone took a group and generalized it to a whole population, which is not true. I work w/ Asian immigrants who are NEP or LEP, who may not have been able to attend school, who are poor, who were/are victims of trauma. Some people think we are all doing so well, which can adversely affect program funding, social services, attending educational institutions, receiving benefits, language assistance, which many Asians are eligible for. "
+ Theme: Silences Asian Struggles and Reduces Aide
" The stereotypes and expectations associated with the myth can cause a lot of microaggressions e.g. 'I thought you're supposed to be good at math' 'Why you aren't doctor/lawyer/engineer', etc. It also forces asians to be silent about their issues and invalidate their struggles. If Asians complain the response is 'but this is a good stereotype!'. If Asians are successful, it is not because of the individual but because 'they are Asian'. "
"working in the nonprofit field, the model minority myth has definitely been a barrier for our community to receive fair and equal access to the same funding opportunities. Funders think that we are fine, that we don't need help or support when that is not the case. our families are struggling just as much as everyone else plus they are at a disadvantage because of language barriers, acclimating to their new home and facing isolation. "
" It allows crime and injustice against us to go unseen "
"nobody pointed out how the Asian labors help this country build the railroad, gold mining, etc. Nobody mentioned about the Japanese Camp and Anti-Asian/Chinese revolutions across the country. Because Asian is timid and used to follow the law, then we are called 'Model Minority'. "
" There is no model minority. What we have is a silent minority. "
"This myth can make Asian need invisible where the general public may feel that Asians have no problems accessing primary care, mental health, or financial resources. "
"Disadvantagous for Asian sub groups that don't fit the stereotype. It further fuels the narrative that we achieve simply because of merit and hard work which is "not the case" for other ethnicities/racial groups who are put in disadvantage due to systemic racism. "
+ Theme: Harmful to Allyship with Other Races
"How this is harmful to other minorities? Because this "model minority" stereotype allows people to put down other races for not being as 'successful'. It can also allow Asians to exercise racism by seeing themselves as 'better' than other minority, rather than fight alongside them as equals. "
"It is bad because it puts a rift between our group and other minority groups. Pitting us against each other. Divide and conquer. Instead, we all should unite and become stronger."
"There are many models in each minority. This false attribution causes even more conflict between Asians and other minorities. "
"The Model Minority myth is another way to stereotype and perpetuates the racist ideal of Asians. It allows for ignoring the needs of the community. As an example, often when citing statistics demonstrating discrimination or inequity, only Black and Latinos percentages are given, ignoring the similar needs and inequities experienced by many Asians."
"I've felt antagonized by others, such as other minority folks, because of it. I have had people tell me I am not a true person of color because I am Asian, because they think we "get the easy way out". I also see many others tell Asian folks similar things on social media, that we have not suffered enough and that we are too much like White folks. It's hurt me to hear things like this."
"I think it's detrimental to everyone, even if it's supposed to be a "good" stereotype. It allows white people to point to Asians and say, "Why can't other minorities be more like them?" This only props up white supremacy by pitting other minorities against Asians. "
+ Theme: Harmful to Self or the Individual
"It also enables resentment on the part of those who believe that Asians constitute a threat for any number of reasons. It’s hopeless and unrealistic to expect that everyone will treat me with respect because of the myth. "
"Knowing that Asians are diligent and hard working, the myth unfairly pits them against the whites in society. Some feel they must live up to this stereotype, or else disappoint their parents, who have struggled so long and hard for the survival of the family."
"We do the best of the job but can't get paid better or promotion. The other race get promoted easily and faster, despite they acquired necessary skill or not, have lessen workload if your work partner is an Asian."
"I have literally had white teachers not pay attention to me when I've asked for help in Math, because I'm especially not good at it. I've been told that I'm not "allowed to feel bad for being Asian, because you're not a real minority, you're just White with Yellow on top." I've been told that I'm not a good "fit" for the culture (white people) in a largely Caucasian company before, because they think my "English" won't be up to par. It's infuriating, because Asian men like myself are told that we can't be part of leadership, or aren't allowed to say we face hardships, because it's doesn't mean anything. I've been told by Asian women that I don't have it bad, because my lived experiences don't match with theirs, and therefore are irrelevant. The Model Minority myth is toxic, breeds self-hatred, and is definitely one of the causes of suicide for Asian Americans."
+ Theme: Encourages Systemic Racism
"It has silenced us and pitted us against other minorities. Fomented Asian fear of and othering of brown and black people."
"At the same time it incentivizes behaviors that are more like "white" mainstream culture or support racist thinking so that I can fit in and be less picked on. Upholding this myth and not recognizing that it is constructed to function as intended, it doesn't help me or others voice the injustices we see. I fear that speaking up will rid me of that protective shield to fly "under the radar" and be left alone."
"I hate the Oppression Olympics between other POC, and I hope that everyone can stand on the same level to fight systemic oppression and racism together one day. "
"The Model Minority myth/paradigm is harmful as it shifts the blame to non-Asian minorities for their socioeconomic status when it is in fact discrimination that is at play into creating structural barriers for these communities."
+ Theme: Harmful When Condoned by Community, Less Support
"The model minority myth is exacerbated by Chinese people's need for always having to look good in front of others. We need to show that we have the same human emotions and flaws like everyone else. All achievements are based on the person's hard work and sacrifice and not based on their skin color."
"We are seen as being good in math, excel in school and have high paying jobs but the negative implications are that there is less support in inter-personal working communities because of those views. Our views are brushed off and I have experiences bullying."
+ Theme: Forced Assimilation
"As a Japanese American, we are expected to excel in work and education and be submissive and compliant. Any deviations from this perspective are punished, and these harmful expectations have become engrained societally and psychologically such that high standards are seen within families and within ourselves."
"We are supposed to just work hard and shut up and put up with everything as our opinion does not matter. "
+ Theme: Diminishes our humanity
"It hurts less privileged Asian Americans especially because it creates the illusion that they don’t need or deserve help. It also makes Asians acceptable targets of violence because they’re portrayed as wealthy, almost-white, successful, docile people who are nonetheless a threat because they’re foreign. "
"I hate this because really we are all individuals. The worst for me was when I spoke up, someone thought I was being disrespectful and belligerent because it went against their idea of how an Asian female should act! "
+ Theme: Perpetual Foreigner
"The "Model Minority" construct is a total lie, used by those in power to pit us against fellow people of color - Black, LatinX, Native Americans, and all other minorities. By believing that lie, we are buying into the very system that disenfranchises the poor and minorities. Look at what it has brought successful Asians: "Go back to China, you Chinese virus!!""
+ Theme: High Expectations
"real. high. expectations. Not all Asians are good with math. "
"I think I have benefited from the myth personally - teachers all expected me to be smart and let me get away with more than black and brown peers. But I was lucky because I [...] had a knack for standardized tests. I imagine it would have been hard if I wasn't, due to unrealistic expectations. [...] my sister struggled more than my brother and I, trying to meet my parents' expectations and it affected her self-esteem in a major way."
+ Theme: Double Edge Sword
"Because of our cultural, traditional upbringing, we tend to be cooperative, easy to get along, don’t make waves, just do our job. We may be perceived as excellent dependable hard workers. It may be our advantage in seeking employment. But it s also a big disadvantage in being passed up in promotions and other advancements."
"the myth is sort of a double sword. it has probably got me the job interview, but probably also not the promotion. being born in America, i've always not been asian enough by being too American (loud and opinionated), but never American enough due to my skin color. "
"Asians in general treasure family values and educations and so there is higher tendency for Asians to persevere and success in the society. To other cultures, it might seem that Asians have advantages being Asian and discount their struggles in the society. "