The Importance Of Stereotypes Of Asian American Students

This article explains and discusses how good Asian students do in high academic levels. At the same time, refutes four different myths about Asian American academic achievements. The article has a brief introduction including some background information before focusing, explaining and discusses the four myths: Asian American has superior academic achievement; Asian-American students are born smart; Asian-American students are trouble-free kids, and Asian-American students are good at

However, the incessant hovering and excessive involvement from Asian parents can add tremendous pressure and stress onto young Asians. In the Daily Collegian News, Penn State sophomore Trevor Hsu expresses, “It puts pressure on Asian [students] themselves to fit that stereotype…they can feel that they let themselves [and their families] down because they have not achieved the level of excellence that the stereotype has set.” (qtd. in Dailey). Because they feel guilty and shameful, many Asian students are reluctant to admit to their parents and teachers that they have difficulties with class works and assignments as much as their non-Asian classmates and consequently, they do not received the support they need to improve their performance.

Parent of Asian Americans are very strict when it comes to education. They don’t focus on playtime as I would call it. Americans tend to believe that you can mix working hard and playing hard. “In America, the dominant culture is all very "live and let live", and people are perfectly happy letting you screw up your own life without their interference so long as you leave them to do the same.” (Smith, 2015)

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

Asian culture has been slandered throughout America's history by the term 'Model Minority', and through it's toxic ideals has lead to outstanding rates of depression, and the inhumane backlash has proven fatal to the Asian-American population. The term 'Model Minority' was coined to categorize Asian-Americans in 1966, during the United States civil liberties movement. During this time period white politicians were in a state of agitation because African-Americans were demanding their civil rights(Chin). The stereotype associated with the term 'model minority' is a suffocating archetype that has been pushed onto Asian-Americans; this degrading term has a harsh history that has led to heinous social pressures and implications, along with detrimental

The Individual and the Model Minority Myth Almost everyone who knows anything about Asian Americans has at least heard about the “model minority” stereotype. There are different ways the stereotype is worded, but it most often characterizes Asian Americans as smart, overachievers, obedient, exceeding in sciences, math, technology and engineering fields of study, having authoritarian parenting, and having the desire to get good grades. Although the stereotype is now frequently referred to as a “myth”, it still persists in American society; it can be seen in the college application process where a study found that Asians need to perform higher on standardized tests than non-Asians. Since this notion is still kept by many in America, it is especially

The Asian group has strong standards regarding academic success. The United States Census Bureau reported that the percentage of Asian Americans to possess a bachelor’s degree or higher increased by 54% which shows a significant increase within the past 20 years (United States Census Bureau, 2016). Throughout much of Asia, children are taught at an early age to believe that education is the only path to success. While they are a distinct minority, their indicators of success in terms of education and future income occur because of the unique style of parenting which is based on the belief of the philosopher Confucius. Within their culture, they are taught to work on self-perfection which will help them achieve self-improvement in qualities such as diligence, determination, and concentration (Seal, 2010). Parents, family members, and their community assume the responsibility for teaching and disciplining children. Furthermore, they instill the belief that a child’s achievement or lack thereof is a direct reflection on the efforts of the entire family and community (Chen & Uttal, 1988). These types of demands coupled with academic

The ongoing stereotype that all Asians are “good in math and science” or they are bound to be the smartest children and at the top of their class does not undermine their confidence. It does the opposite because it is a “positive stereotype” that encourages them to do their best. Asian- American families emphasize hard work and hardly accept anything below a B or A- which is uncommon in most American homes. Due to the low divorce rates among Asian- American communities, another contributor to the upward mobility and success of Asian-Americans is the strong two-parent household because these particular families are less likely to become impoverished which foreshadows more positive outcomes for the children.

The belief that Asian Americans are highly successful academically gives a distorted representation to society. In reality, many of them are living below poverty level with little to no educational background. The reason Asian Americans are so successful academically is because they are aiming for a better life, one out of poverty. They understand that education can open up new doors to endless opportunities for their children so many Asian immigrants come to America in hopes that their children can have these opportunities. These Asian American students are exceedingly self motivated to make the most of their opportunity given to them through their parents’ sacrifices.

Some may ask what exactly define an Asian American. The awareness of this controversies of the indefinite identity was during the emergence of the second generations of Asian Americans who were once known as “oriental” in the period between the 1900 to 1940s. They had shaped and constructed the idea of an Asian Americans by forging their own paths socially, politically, and economically through their experiences of being percepted as “oriental” regardless of their nativity and citizenship. In consequence, tensions among the first generations immigrant parents and second generation began to rise as changes began to transpire.

Throughout the day, many of us use stereotypes some noticed able than others; yet we do not know the affects they have on the person said to. The issue I want to get through is that we all go through most racial stereotypes every day not knowing it effects our health. People most affected racial stereotypes are Hispanics, Africans and Asian Americans, but how did they get those. Out of all the races in the United States Asian American have higher expectations compared to any other ethnics. Why are Asian American expectations so high? The positive stereotypes can make them stress even more than a negative stereotypes. Many race live up to stereotypes thinking that they have to be the stereotype even if it is negative because that is what people expect. Asians Americans are labeled minority model causing them stress that pressures them, to achieve higher expectations.

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.

The schools I went to before third grade had a strong Asian population. Asians were the majority; there were rarely any non-Asians in those schools. During that time, I was allowed to stay innocent and uncaring of what others thought of me. It was a pity those golden days couldn’t last longer. The school I transferred to for the remainder of my elementary education had an extremely low Asian rate. In fact, you could have listed all the Asians in the school with only one hand. With little to none Eastern Asians, my parents pushed me to work harder. Unbeknownst to them, they were trying to mold me into the stereotypical smart Asian. The changes were subtle at first since they

Asian stereotyping does not only affect Asian adults but, can also affect young Asian students. The people being stereotyped are around the age where self image means a lot too. Hence, making stereotyping bring about a much worse “side effect” for young Asians. “When you have these very broad stereotypes around academic success, and you hear it echoed in your close social circles… it can be very damaging.” as stated by Hua-Yu Sebastian Cherng from international education at Steinhardt. One of the more known stereotypes towards the Asian race is smart, nerdy, or one who excels academics. This stereotype can sometimes be correct in certain aspects. Asian-American students are three times more expected to complete college compared to white students with parents from the United States. (Sarah D Sparks,”Stereotypes Turn Up Pressure on Asian Students, Lower Their Own Expectations”) These stereotypes, especially the ones that reflect onto self image, pushes Asian students to become something they are expected to be. Being seen to be someone based on broad stereotypes, does not give young

I was born and raised in the U.S., yet I still do not fully understand what it means to be Asian-American. There have been times where I was embarrassed to be seen together with my parents in public because I wanted to distance myself from my Asian background that was the center of many jokes I heard in school. For the sake of trying to fit in, I have lost a lot of what it means to be Asian. I used to be embarrassed bringing my mom’s home-cooked meals to school because everyone else thought it was “weird” and unappetizing looking. I have tried for most of my life to be “different” from the other Asians around me. Whatever the stereotypes were of East Asians, I would do the exact opposite. If the stereotype was that Asians were terrible about creative arts, I would