Asian-Americans: Struggling to Feel American Despite Stereotypes - Essay Sample

Introduction

There are many stereotypes about Asians that are sometimes pronounced without thinking about their meaning and the effect they can have on the listener. Often those comments make Asians who are from the United States not feel truly American. Although some Asian-Americans have risen above the stereotypes in leading American professional roles, there are still countless stereotypes around that racial group. From a sociological perspective, these stereotypes reflect the very definition of racism, that is, a differentiation based on race that endorses institutionalized control by whites (Yeo et al. 42). In the past, the Asians have been the target of explicit laws of exclusion and civil participation. Currently, they are targets of aggression, discrimination and even hate crimes. This paper outlines some of the most common generalizations and misconceptions about Asian American students.

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Stereotype 1: The "Foreigner" Perception and Its Consequences on Asian-American Students

One of the most typical stereotypes of Asian American students is that they come from China due to their cognitive. Usually, individuals ask these students the question, "Are you from China?" The answer to this question has two paths. If the answer is yes, the other person will put on a smug look like congratulating themself for guessing. If the answer is no, a long list of Asian countries will start to be mentioned to try to hit the mark. Needless to say, it is useless to clarify that the student was born in America.

Stereotype 2: The "Quiet" Label and Its Influence on Mental Health and Education

Another stereotype is that Asian Americans are considered "quiet" and do not respond to conflict. As a result, they become an easy target for insults, harassment and aggression - 33% of Asian American students drop out of high school, the highest rate in the country (Tran 417). Depression, insomnia and isolation are part of the psychological diagnosis. According to a 2007 study by the American Psychological Association, suicide was the second leading cause of death for Asian Americans aged 15 to 34. There are universities with sectors especially dedicated to helping Asian students who are victims of prejudice incidents. But in the book The Racial Middle: Latinos and Asian Americans Living Beyond the Racial Divide (2008), sociologist Eileen O'Brien points out that many Asian Americans do not report incidents, unlike the thousands of cases of discrimination reported by African Americans (O'Brien, E. and O'Brien, E.). The study shows how, unlike blacks, who have a long history of activism, Asian Americans often do not take a stand against discrimination. The idealized image of peaceful (psychologically) and favourable (economically) makes pressures on Asians a veiled prejudice, which is swept under the rug (Juang and Kiang 253).

Studies have shown that teacher expectations often affect student achievement. Their teachers and counselors think they are smart and promising, and they expect these students to stand out and enter university. This stereotype causes those students who fail to achieve high academic achievement a serious sense of frustration.

Stereotype 3: The "Math and Tech" Myth and Its Implications on Leadership Opportunities

Another stereotype is that Asian Americans are very good at mathematics and technical ability, but generally think that they are not good at management (New York Times 1). In effect, Asian American students are disadvantaged in terms of promotion and leadership. A recent study shows that other Americans regard Asian Americans as nerds, geeks or aliens. Stereotypes of Asian Americans also include: Men are especially seen as more feminine and physically weaker than whites. These passive and non-moving stereotypes further highlight the lack of athletic ability and control ability among Asian Americans.

Discrimination in College Admissions: The Ongoing Struggle for Asian-American Students

The stereotypes against Asian American students is also evident in college admissions, a reality that has gained much media attention with racial discrimination at Harvard University. Based on an analysis of more than 160,000 student records, Harvard University consistently believes that Asian American applicants have lower personalities, courage, and kindness than those of other ethnic groups (von Spakovsky). In addition to this, the federal investigation published a document showing that admissions officials at Princeton University devalued Asian American applicants and stereotyped them with labels such as "standard matriculation." Top schools such as Stanford University and Brown University also acknowledged prejudice against Asian Americans. An internal survey conducted by the Institutional Research Office of Harvard University in 2013 showed that the enrollment rate of Asians is lower than that of non-Asians with similar qualifications. Many employers in the United States, Canada or New Zealand and Australia also see the Chinese surname and subconsciously determine that the candidate has poor English and question their ability to work. The consequence is that these Asian American students are eliminated at the initial screening.

Conclusion

Discrimination against Asian American students is a social injustice that is often overlooked, but one that needs to be corrected in social and interpersonal environments. Most people usually adopt stereotypes and labels for Asian American students, including such labels as smart and hardworking. However, these "positive" stereotypes often become distorted, leading Asian Americans to be slandered for being too smart, too focused on academics, and lacking social skills. These stereotypes not only affect the social life of Asian Americans but also negatively affect their mental health. The stereotypes of "smart" and "hardworking" of Asian Americans also make Asian students very anxious. They feel that they must achieve higher academic results because of ethnic stereotypes.

Asian Americans suffer unfair discrimination every day in education, social or interpersonal relationships, and professional environments. This injustice has a negative impact on the lives of all Asian Americans. To reduce discrimination against Asian Americans and the suffering suffered by these students due to discrimination, there is a need to call on the entire society to pay attention to this issue. Without discrimination, the prejudice against Asian Americans in social and interpersonal environments will gradually disappear and allow Asian American students to pursue their studies conveniently.

Works Cited

Juang, Linda P., and Lisa Kiang. "Racial Discrimination and Adjustment Among Asian American Youth: Vulnerability and Protective Factors in the Face of "Chinks,""Dog-Eaters," and "Jackie Chan"." Handbook of Children and Prejudice. Springer, Cham, 2019. 249-268.

O'brien, Eileen, and Eileen O'Brien. The racial middle: Latinos and Asian Americans living beyond the racial divide. NYU Press, 2008.

Tran, Ben. "The impact of the model minority culture in higher education institutions: The cause of Asian Americans' psychological and mental health." Gaming and technology addiction: Breakthroughs in research and practice. IGI Global, 2017. 404-445.

von Spakovsky, Hans A. "Racial Discrimination at Harvard University and America's" Elite" Institutions. Legal Memorandum. No. 236." Heritage Foundation (2018).

Yeo, H. T., et al. "Asian international student and Asian American student: Mistaken identity and racial microaggressions." Journal of International Students 9.1 (2019): 39-65.