Model Minority Myth

August 28, 2020 / Source: The Bizz USA
By Isabelle Sitchon; Edited by Pallavi Vemuri and Haarika Kalahasti

       I’ve always wondered why my second grade teacher looked at me in utter disappointment when she handed back my reading test with the number “38” written in red ink on the top left corner. She had walked off with a heap of papers in her hand, not saying a single word to me. I glanced down at the red number in shame, wondering why my teacher placed the rest of the tests face up on all of the other kids’ desks and spoke soft words of encouragement to my friends who had the same grade as me. Come fourth grade orientation, my teacher laughed with my parents about how she was looking forward to me becoming an A+ student in her class. Then, fast forward a few years: I arrived at high school, my heart thrummed erratically, as it became filled with worries and expectations for what’s supposed to be the best 4 years of my life. On the third day of freshman year, the first thing I heard when I walked into my geometry class is, “You’re smart. Can I see your homework from last night?” 

         From a young age, I didn’t quite understand why the people in my life would hold my intelligence against me-- as if it was the only good thing going for my life. When my classmates saw me freaking out over a psychology midterm, they would reassure me by saying, “You’re Asian, you got this!” In my Filipino church, I would get asked the question, “Are you going to nursing school soon?”, every sunday. Even my Asian friends would joke around with each other about not “meeting the Asian standard” because they couldn’t maintain an A in chemistry. In all those years of normalizing and accepting those remarks, I didn’t realize that we were contributing to the Model Minority Stereotype, and that these expectations were harming my identity as an Asian-American.

What is the Model Minority Stereotype?

         The term “model minority” characterizes a population as the ideal minority group; its members are believed to attain a higher socioeconomic success, contrasting with other minority populations. In simpler terms, people associated in this group are held to a higher standard of independence and intelligence among society. This concept is most often directed towards Asian-Americans. Stereotypes such as an Asian “becoming a doctor when they grow up” or “getting straight A’s” are all a part of the model minority stereotype. Here are more instances of micro-aggressions based on stereotypes:

• Thinking of an Asian as extremely smart and hard-working at first glance
• Assuming that a person does not need help on homework because “they’re Asian” 
• Asking a person if they’re going into a STEM major in college because of their Asian background
• Joking around about how an Asian-American has some sort of extraordinary talent (ex. playing the piano, being a chess champion, etc.)
• Believing that Asians are wealthy and living the “American Dream”
• Assuming all asians are “bad drivers”​

Example of the Model Minority Stereotype through a comic strip.

Why Should We Call it a Myth?

      At first, people may say, “what’s so bad about being seen as smart or hardworking?” You’re considered as a role model for others, and you wouldn’t have to worry about getting into a good college, because your future is laid out for you. 

     In reality, these racial prejudices are dangerous towards the Asian-American community, as it can place unreasonably high standards of both success and failure. Regardless of how positive these images of Asian-Americans may seem, a stereotype is still a stereotype. Depicting a racial group as the “model minority” shouldn’t be perceived as a truth, but as a myth instead. But why exactly is the model minority stereotype so harmful?

1. It places unrealistic expectations upon Asian-Americans. In the United States, the pressure of being the “master of all trades” has placed major stress upon Asian-Americans. In fact, three years ago, Asian-American college students were 1.6 times more likely to attempt suicide than any other racial groups. The burdening weight of this cultural stigma has made a serious impact upon Asian-Americans, yet our struggles are undermined because we are a part of the “model minority”. The myth buries our hardships underneath the ground and instead writes a strict guideline determining how we should live our lives. As a result, we often have lower self-esteem and find difficulty in confiding into others, as Asian-American college students are three times less likely to seek professional help. We have to live up to expectations that are not based on our own character as an individual, but rather the race that we identify with.
2. It makes it harder for Asian-Americans to find their own identity. Because the model minority stereotype erases the differences between individuals, the myth refuses to explore the diversity of Asian culture and supports the belief that Asians are “foreigners”. This is evident across the American film industry, as having a “token Asian” in the character cast is a popular recurrence in movies such as Pitch Perfect with the character “Lilly Onakuramara”. Characters like Lilly are almost always looped into a certain stereotype, such as the nerdy Asian or the oddball Asian kid. However, Asian-Americans do not receive enough representation in the film industry as a result. Among American TV series regulars, only 4.3 percent were Asian or a Pacific Islander. Because Asians are inaccurately represented in outlets such as American TV and movies, Asian-Americans face conflicts with their self-identity.
   
   1. With the model minority stereotype placed upon Asian-Americans, the reputation of being the “smart, successful, and independent role model” follows them everywhere. In school, it’s expressed in questions such as “Can I see your paper?” or phrases like “I’ll just trust your answers because you’re smart.” In the workplace, Asian-Americans are trusted to fix their coworkers’ computers, but often ignored when communicating their ideas or opinions because of the “submissive Asian” stereotype. No matter how hard they try, most Asian-Americans feel as if they cannot remove the label that’s been cast on them by the model minority myth. Consequently, Asian-Americans are compelled to surrender to the stereotypes, which doesn’t allow for them to step up for themselves. Not only this, but the stereotype effectively nullifies the years of hard work and sacrifice a student puts into achieving good grades. Having to put in high levels of effort just to be told that it isn’t due to the hard work, but instead due to race, is demoralizing.
3. It impedes on society’s strive towards racial justice. Not only does the term “model minority” hurt Asian-Americans, but it also harms other minority groups as well. Imposing such stereotypes not only conceals the racism against Asian-Americans--it also normalizes it. The model minority myth assumes that Asian-Americans have always been succeeding in society, suggesting the idea that in order to succeed in society, other racial groups should follow the “Asian Way” despite their history of oppression. This mindset pits people of color against one another and is used to downplay the discrimination against minorities. We have been silencing the voice of our Asian-American population for years, and it has only been brought to important light in spite of several social issues. If we continue to ignore the prejudice faced against Asian-Americans and follow this conflicting attitude, are we really progressing in our fight against racial injustice?​

Image of Yuji Ichioka.

Crazy Rich Asians (2018)- Fully Asian-cast, Asian feature film

What Do I Do Now?

          We are currently in an age where important humanitarian issues are being brought to awareness rather than being brushed off. At a time like this, silence feeds the problem. Here are some ways to speak out against racism faced by Asian-Americans:

• Think for a second: make sure you’re not contributing to the problem by checking your own biases against other people. Do you really think your Asian friend would be okay doing group work by herself because she’s smart, or does she actually need a helping hand? 
• Promote awareness by educating yourself and others on Asian-American activists, such as Yuji Ichioka and Larry Itliong.
• Advocate for more Asian representation in American mediums, such as books and feature films.
• Hear out your fellow Asian-American friends and family. Listening to personal experiences of racial prejudice against the people around you will help shape your beliefs upon the matter. 
• If you’re Asian yourself, don’t be afraid to speak out against any stereotype placed against you. You are not obligated to live up to the Asian expectation that everyone assumes you are, but rather the expectation that you want to achieve yourself. ​ ​

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​         It’s time to stand up and strip the name of “model minority” off of Asian-Americans. In a world where we continually face racial discrimination even today, society needs to take a stand and speak up. It’s not the time to stay silent not only on matters on Asian-Americans, but all people of color.