Asian American Family Culture

My grandmother sent me a letter from home, telling the success story of her old Chinese tenants who, through hard work, had become very wealthy in the 9 short years they lived in America. My grandmother embraces the belief that "with hard work, patience and a little help from the model minority stereotype, someday Asians will gain full approval of white America". She believes that Asian Americans are inherently smarter, more diligent and thrifty than other racial minorities of our time. I, on the other hand, am skeptical towards this assumed advantage that other minorities have perceived as "elevators to the ladder of success" in American

Chinese parents and American parents differ greatly in their parenting styles and a noticeable difference can be seen in the success of their children. The children of Chinese parents often excel in various areas, including in their educational, musical, and professional lives. The children of American parents, however, usually have a harder time excelling in those areas. Chinese parents and American parents hold opposing philosophies about how they view their children, opposing methods about how they raise their children, and opposing effects on the personalities of their children.

The credibility of the author has reflected on his article. The paragraphs in the article are comprehensive and relates to the main idea. The author’s knowledge about the Asian-American community and his valid point of view about the myth have reflected on his article as an ethical appeal to the readers. In sixth paragraph he states that the comparison of an Asian-American families’ income with other families are illusive because Asian- American families have more members in family thus they have higher income. Then,

During World War Two, propaganda was a way for the government to entice people on one-sided political standpoints. It was used mostly in the form of posters, especially in the United States and Germany. These illustrative displays were all very unique but had similar characteristics. The American propaganda poster, “Liberty” and the German’s, “Sower of Peace” served the same purpose and audience but had very different visual presentations. The American poster depicts soldiers fighting in the Revolutionary War 1778 and in WWII in 1943. Also in the poster waves the original American flag, symbolizing the nation’s freedom from Britain. At the bottom of the poster reads, “Americans will always fight for liberty.” The poster’s meaning is that the United States will not stand by and let other countries control or endanger us, that the people will fight the same as they did during the brutal war in 1778. On the other hand, the German poster illustrates Hitler sowing “seeds of peace.” In the background lies an angel with a trumpet, representing peace and harmony. “The seed of peace, not dragon's teeth” is written on the bottom of the poster in German. Although the two advertisements differed in appearance, they were similar in audience.

We have a lot of different opinions than others and we do want the best for our world. Therefore, we Asians stand apart from other Americans of all races and ethnicities in family structure/values. We share a belief that a commitment to hard work and self- determination does not conflict with a belief in a powerful government and a positive safe

“Asian Americans are the highest-income, best educated and fastest-growing racial group in the United States. They are more satisfied than the general public with their lives, finances and the direction of the country, and they place more value than other Americans do on marriage, parenthood, hard work and career success, according to a comprehensive new nationwide survey by the Pew Research Center.”

Asians are one of fastest growing minority groups in America today. During this century, various factors at home and abroad have caused people from Asia to immigrate to the United States for better or for worse. Due to these factors, Americans and American teachers, in particular, need to educate themselves and become aware of the Asian American students’ needs in terms of success and happiness. Before beginning my research, I felt I had an easy subject: studying Asian Americans in relation to their education in public schools. How simple! Everyone knows they are smart, hard working, driven to succeed in spite of their nerdish, geeky, non-athletic, broken-English stereotype. Of course they are

According to the 2010 U.S. Census, 52.4% of Asian Americans over the age of 25 have a bachelor’s degree or higher, compared to only 29.9% of the total population and 30.3% of non-Hispanic White Americans, signifying higher overall educational attainment for this group (U.S. Census Bureau, 2012). However, this high number failed to consider the differences within the Asian population with some subgroups having educational levels that are significantly below the national average. The 2010 U.S. Census also reported that Asian Americans have a significantly higher annual family income than any other racial groups in the country, though it failed to mention that Asian American families tend to be larger with more family members that are contributing to that high annual income number (U.S. Census Bureau, 2012).

Asian Americans are a diverse group of people who are among the fastest growing minority groups in the United States. Despite their minority status, they often surpass Whites in America and do so while holding on to their cultural values regarding family, education, and success.

Rhonda L. Callaway’s article explores the idea that Western orientated human rights are not suited to Eastern Asian societies. Callaway discusses how Asian societies prefer to follow a less individualistic approach to life, instead focusing on the family and community, placing them in a position opposed to Western customs and rights. Yet, criticisms of the notion of ‘Asian Values’ are also included, one such criticism labelling it an excuse for the state to repress rights.

Asian-American students are often assumed to be the ones who finish on top academically. Due to the amount of high-ranking Asian-American students in schools throughout the United States, a cliché stereotype has been developed claiming all Asian students are “whiz kids.” The culture which Asian individuals practice differs by region however, majority of Asian individuals celebrate a different culture than mainstream Americans. I interviewed Susan, an Asian-American female who was born to an Asian mother, and an American father.

A survey has said that Asian Americans have a great value on marriages, parernthood, hard work and career success. They had a direct path on having a postive and better life than any other ethnic group in the world.

Struggles of Finding One’s Identity In the essay Growing Up Asian in America by, Kesaya E. Noda talks about finding her identity. Noda starts the essay by stating how the identity she was given was not one she received through her own personality and actions. Rather, society quickly gave her an identity with its own respected stereotypes due to the color of her skin. Society “hurtled” this identity at her with an expectation that she fulfill the attributes characterized with an Asian American.

Before referring to the impact of culture on families, I will say that culture is known as knowledge, art, beliefs, law, morals, customs and all habits and skills acquired by man not only in the family but also to be part of a society as a member that is. It is also defined as a set of ideas, behaviors, symbols and social practices learned from generation to generation through life in society. The family is defined as a group of people linked by blood, marriage, or adoption; usually centered on a married couple, their dependents, and relatives. Although there have also been non-traditional families made up of people who are not linked by blood or marriage and are now found more frequently in many regions of the world.

Modern Family is a sitcom that first aired in 2009 that focuses on many prevalent issues including cultural differences in families. The US was a nation founded upon immigration and now embraces the term as “melting pot” (National Review). The Pew Research Center reports that currently about ten percent of children are mixed race (VOA News). Many children have the influence of two or more cultures within their families. Yet the influence of culture can extend in the environment as well. Growing up with Chinese parents but living in America I can feel the impact of both cultures and I am appreciative of both. There are moments in Modern Family where we can see both the “melting pot” of the Delgado-Pritchett marriage and the tension caused by the different cultures, and I find there are reasons why the sitcom portrays both perspectives.