The model minority myth is a false assumption on the Asian American

The model minority myth is a false assumption on the Asian American people.

It falsely compartmentalizes them into a perfect minority group that others should admire and try to aspire to imitate. It makes Asian Americans seem like they have no struggles and are very well off.

Many believe that Asians are uniquely capable of taking care of themselves without the assistance of the government, unlike other minorities such as Hispanics and African Americans. It stereotypes Asian Americans as more academically, economically and socially successful than other racial minority groups.

The positive tenor of the model minority label may lead some people to believe that it is flattering, regardless of whether it is true or not.

This myth, which started during the 1960s and 1970s, defined all the characteristics of Asian Americans, making them one big group with little individualistic cultural identity.

This image became big during the 1980s and the media played a big role in helping portray Asian Americans as the perfect “model minority.”

Recent statistics show that nearly 70 percent of Indians over 25 in the U.S. have a Bachelor’s degree, and over 50 percent of Chinese, Pakistani and Korean-Americans over 25 have college degrees.

This however is not true for all Asian Americans, since only one in 10 Samoan-Americans get a college degree and 12 to 13 percent of Cambodian, Hmong and Laotian Americans attain a college degree.

Also, Asian American student populations are high only in a small percentage of institutions, specifically in California’s UC system, giving the false impression of high enrollment in higher education overall.

In reality, Asian American students are more likely to enroll in community colleges than in public or private four-year universities. Furthermore, the Gates Millennium scholarship that is geared toward low-income, first-generation college students excluded Asian Americans.

At first it was only open to African American, American Indian and Hispanic students until advocacy organizations convinced them to include Asian Americans because around a third of Asian-American students are the first in their families to go to college.

This shows that Asian American students are under the false impression that they are smart and capable of getting into a good school without any help, including financial aid.

The message is loud and clear: “If Asian Americans can succeed in America, why not African Americans, Hispanics, and Native Americans?” However, this stereotype can be dangerous and harmful to Asian American students.

The group comparison superficially compliments the success of one group, as it implicitly points to the failure of another group.

It creates a distorted portrait of all Asian American students as hard working, studious and persevering without complaint, while all other students of color are supposedly lazy and disruptive.

Needless to say, this causes interracial tension. The majority of Asian American students do not like to be referred to as a model minority. They recognize the unfair burden, expectations and pressure placed on them simply because of their race.

Asian Americans are also discriminated in the workforce. Both Asian men and women are likely to be paid less than European Americans; men are likely to be paid 10-15 percent less and women 40-50 percent less.

This, however, counters the false belief that Asian American individuals tend to have higher wages than European Americans, which is partially true but only because they are compared in states with the highest living standard in the U.S.

These false images can lead Asian American students to be more verbally and physically harassed by their peers.

The model minority myth may encourage Asian American students to silence and hide their personal problems.

Studies have found that Asian Americans are less likely to seek help, whether it is for school, physical, or mental health needs – even though they may have serious issues.

Further, there is a serious gap in providing culture-specific services that address the unique needs of Asian American populations.

It’s true that some Asian Americans are doing well. Does that mean that we ignore the people who aren’t doing well, knowing that there are specific groups facing distinct patterns of inequality?

The model minority myth encourages Asian Americans to hide their problems and in return causes severe pain to the community.

For this reason suicide is extremely high in the Asian American community, in fact they have the highest rate for suicide out of all ethnic groups.

The model minority myth is still around and it will not go away unless we as individuals start to recognize it. We must challenge ourselves and others to stop this cycle of racism.

http://www.theusdvista.com/combating-the-model-minority-myth-1.2965398#.UMDSNYbdu24