The model minority stereotype (1966- ) is how many in America see Asians, what I will call those whose family came to the country from East Asia (though much of this applies to South Asians too). They are seen as doing well in school, not causing trouble and so on.
Although it might seem like a good thing, many Asians hate being seen that way. Because it is not true. Because Asians are just people, not some strange stereotype cooked up in the minds of white people.
To see just how cooked up it is, notice how it is always the opposite of the stereotype for blacks:
| black men | Asian men |
| ill-mannered | well-behaved |
| brainless | brainy |
| cool | nerdy |
| good at sports | bad at sports |
| do not like to work | hard-working |
| do not care about their children | family-oriented |
| violent | peaceful |
| break the law | make little trouble |
| have little education | have good educations |
| poor | well-to-do |
| succeed by preferences | succeed by merit |
| black women | Asian women |
| ugly | pretty |
| loud-mouthed | quiet |
| bossy | submissive |
That is pretty strange when you consider that the stereotypes about blacks have very little to do with Asians but everything to do with the ugly history of race in America, with whites trying to cover up their crimes against blacks.
The model minority stereotype comes from whites trying to blame blacks for their condition. It lets white people believe that Asians come here with nothing and, even though they are not white, they still make it. So there must be something wrong with blacks!
By holding this stereotype, whites are not patting Asians on the back – they are patting themselves on the back!!
It is a fact that Asians in general have better educations and make more money than even whites. That is because many came to America to get university degrees and stayed. They did not pull themselves up from the bottom – they started near the top!
But it is also a fact that Asians are more likely to live in poverty than whites. Some Asians started out at the bottom and many of them are still there, like Cambodians, Laotians, Hmongs and some of the Chinese. One of the most violent parts of Manhattan is Chinese. Some of the poorest people I have ever seen in America are Hmongs.
And even well-to-do Korean Americans, say, still experience racism. Even when they are born in America whites still see them as foreigners: they are always Asians, never just plain old Americans. Whites do not trust them with important positions. Why? Like with blacks, whites see them as being “not like us”, meaning that in a bad way.
I think in time Asians will come close to being like Jews: in the white American mind they will go from “not like us” to “not quite like us”. They will come to understand that you can be a true-blue American and still look Asian. But Asians will never get closer than the Jews so long as whites are racist: unlike Jews, Asians cannot hide where they came from.
See also:
Yes, indeed. Apple-pie America wants to divide people of color/working class whites against one another by promoting “positive” stereotypes of Asians as oppose to African Americans, Latinos, American Indians and poor/working class whites by saying that they are deficient and inferior to the “model minority” and in need of surveillence and perpetual help.
This stereotype does hide the disadvantages Asian face in America, past and present and it’s very dangerous to all Americans, Asians included.
Just like the pure white woman stereotype, the model minority stereotype whitewashes atrocities and exploitation directed at people of African descent.
Stephanie B.
Right, this stereotype hurts everyone. It does not look like it is aimed at blacks, but it is.
Thank you for this post Abagond. I’ve noticed that some Asians pick up mainstream America racist views toward blks.
In New York Asians come here and sometimes it only takes a couple months and they are just as racist against blacks as the whites. You would think they would know better – not being white and being so new to the country. Not always so.
“And even well-to-do Korean Americans, say, still experience racism. Even when they are born in America whites still see them as foreigners: they are always Asians, never just plain old Americans. Whites do not trust them with important positions. Why? Like with blacks, whites see them as being “not like us”, meaning that in a bad way.”- Abagond
BINGO!!
Sure, they may be acceptable to mainstream folks eager to find a nonthreatening POC group but in no way want they want them to be equal to them. They just want to hurt and look down on Blacks as always.
Steph
Asians don’t pick up any mainstream view, But I guess denial that your race to foreigners will yes put them off.
I’m Korean/Black, I can see how a Korean or any asian coming here and most likely gets their store or something stolen from them by a black person would put them off.
Black americans seem to think everyone owes them something, even asians, and that digust them even more. Which is why I thank god my mother is Somali and not some AA trash.
Oh reallly YBnie!
Thanks Chic Noir. I was this close to deleting her comment.
Actually, the fact about East Asians having a higher average annual salary than white Americans is actually a manipulation.
The majority of East Asians in the U.S. reside in California, first. New York, secondly. The cost of living in both states, especially in the financially-troubled CA is ridiciously higher than other parts of the country. So, of course, East Asians would have a higher average salary, the cost of living is higher! East Asians, also tend to have a larger family on average, according to the Census. So combine the higher salary in a high-priced location with more people to take care of and you see that East Asians, on average, are not generally affluent. In fact, few East Asians are in high-ranking positions, in say, business or government.
So, the model minority stereotype is not only a sideways swipe at black Americans, it’s a ploy to cover up the inequity between East Asians and white Americans.
East Asians, also tend to have a larger family on average, according to the Census.
True but they also have higher personal income:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/ac/Race_Income.png
The counter balance to the higher salaries in urban areas is that a fairly high percentage of Asians, especially Chinese, Lao, Kmer, and Hmong are recent immigrants and are relegated to lower paying jobs because of language barriers. As a percentage of the population there are few non-Hispanic whites who would fall into this category. I’ve read a study that said Second (and higher) generation Asian median income (individual) outpaces the median white income by more than 20%.
In many metrics Asians outpace whites. Scores on SAT tests. Academic performance. Infant mortality rate (lower), Crime (roughly 1/4 that of whites…)
That’s gotta be a blessing and a curse for them. It’s a blessing because they are assumed to be “ideal” but it’s a curse when they’re not and fail to live up to the expectations.
^ I find this to be true, well, in my case. You’d be surprised how often I’m told why I didn’t become a doctor, scientist, or an engineer. It seems as if that it’s expected of me. I work with children and I enjoy what I do. Sorry to burst anyone’s bubble.
YBnie, to see trash you do not have to look any further than the Somali community you rep. It’s some shiftless/lazy folks and ne’erdowells in that community as well too so just stop;and I only said something about Somalis because you made a point to mention this. All of you are “not” wallowing in wealth! This applies to some Koreans and other Asian groups too, because every group has its criminals,ne’erdowells, and lazy folks!
The model minority stereotype is not founded in reality. I grew up in the Bay Area in San Francisco, CA; the most predominantly Asian big city in America. Asians are much more diverse on the West Coast and come from all income levels and backgrounds. But at the same time, I saw much poverty, mental illness, violence, alcoholism, drug addiction and gang problems in the urban Asian American community that is overlooked and often swept under the rug by the White dominated media. However, living in the Bay Area, it was always understood that it was dangerous being Asian because of all of the well-documented interracial tensions and gangs in California. Growing up, all minorities were more or less the same. Where I’m from, many Asians lived in the ghetto just like Blacks and Latinos. Asian youth were just as likely to gang bang and sell drugs just like other minorities. However, I currently live on the East Coast and I am appalled out how stereotypical Asians tend to be outside of NYC and parts of Philly. Out here on the East Coast, most Asians are Koreans who own liquor stores, mini marts and deli’s.
Abagond, what about Asians and Asian-Americans using this phenomenon to pat themselves in the back? I’ve read Asian oriented forums where users pull up the stats that illustrate Asian economic power in comparison to other races. The main problem many people don’t view Asians as an oppressed group is because they’ve gotten to a relative position of power here in the United States by kowtowing to the system. African Americans on average fought for civil liberty while enduring the horror of chattel slavery (something Asians didn’t face in this country). American Indians for the most part fought against the oppressive doctrine of Manifest Destiny as the U.S. expanded westward while not fulfilling numerous treaties in the process (Asians didn’t face that in this country). Really, what’s the relative percentage of Asian-Black or Asian-Native relationships in comparison with white-Asian relationships here in the U.S. or Canada? Do you think Asians back then wanted to hobnob with the oppressed and generally picked-on minorities or those groups that wielded money and thus the power to influence the way things were run in this country? When people talk about the hardships the Chinese faced when they WILLINGLY immigrated to California, making a spot for themselves while they were at it, not much attention is paid to the indigenous groups that were displaced, had bounties placed on their heads and had their populations decimated to very low numbers to make it even possible for the Chinese and other groups to strike it rich at the expense of others. Hmm, much like what the model minority phenomenon is doing.
Its the (rich) white man’s game and the system benefits him.
Generally, I tend to view the Chinese as being similar to the French in having more of a feeling of cultural rather than biological superiority. Racial Xenophobia seems to be strongest in Japan in my view.
Generally, I tend to view the Chinese as being similar to the French in having more of a feeling of cultural rather than biological superiority. Racial Xenophobia seems to be strongest in Japan in my view.
As far as hatred for blacks, I tend to feel South Asians (generally not individually) in India radiate more hostility than East Asians. I suspect this is because they already have a deeply entrenched system of bigotry i.e. the caste system and that they are applying it to the world.
Here, in American though, I feel many people (not just Asians but many others including many blacks) buy into anti-black & pro-light imagery and stereotypes that ultimately boost white supremacy. Its the (rich) white man’s game and this system benefits him.
Ultimately, though, there are “good” and “bad” people in every group.
I wish you had also compared the stereotypes of black and Asian men as you did for the women. It’s interesting to see how the stereotypes are similarly negative. Wouldn’t this also be a reference to the pure white woman syndrome.
I would also like to point out that Asians do not become assimilated to American racism. Colourism has long been a part of Asian society, and long before colonial intrusion. One only has to look at ancient fashion in Japan and China to discover that lighter skin has always been favored.
Racist Asians were likely racist before their arrival in America.