Abstract: Asian--just simple word. Defined by Merriam-Webster Dictionary as a native or inhabitant of Asia. (1) To others, however, the word is widely portrayed and associated with docile minorities, strangers, and passive individuals from distant shore far in the East. This state of being has created this sense of false exoticism among society about Asians from the exotic East. (2) Asians, whose racial ethnicity may be from Asia but who live their lives in the United States, are viewed as Asian Americans with strong focuses on educational and academic pursuits as means of obtaining social equality in their new land. Often times, their struggles for social justice are gained privately as individuals instead of voicing their opinion in the public arena like African Americans and other groups. Although some Asian Americans fit the stereotypes that perpetuate the model minority myth, society needs to take closer look at how these false assumptions end up hurting Asian Americans and dividing ethnic groups along with ignoring important is sues facing Asian Americans in the United States. Since the first Chinese immigrants arrived in California as railroad workers in the nineteenth century, Asians have made significant contributions to developing nationhood and expansion of democratic institutions in the U.S. As the years have gone by, the flood of Asians into the United States has increased tremendously. The racial formation of Asian Americans can be traced throughout United States's history. From the Chinese railroad workers to Japanese strawberry farmers, to newly arrived refugee boat people from Southeast the simple term Asian is no longer defined as a native or in habitant of Asia, but also associated with number of myths and stereotypes--a standard mental picture that is held in common by members of group and that represents an oversimplified opinion, prejudiced attitude or uncritical judgment. (3) These have in turn caused tremendous problems for the Asian American community and has caused me personally tremendous turmoil as Cambodian American living in the United States. In The Karma of Brown Folk, by Vijay Prashad, (4) the question What does it feel like to be solution? was proposed to the Asian American community by the author. (5) The notion of the Asian Americans being the model minority has created picture of hard working, studious group of Asian Americans who excel in academics and attend the top universities throughout the United States. This term was first used in print by sociologist William Peterson in an article titled Success Story: Japanese American Style published in the New York Times Magazine in January of 1966. Peterson concluded that Japanese culture with its family values and strong work ethic enabled the Japanese Americans to overcome prejudice and to avoid becoming problem minority. (6) This idea that Asians are the successful has become so widespread that admission offices at colleges and universities across the country do not include Asian or Asian Americans in their diversity recruitment efforts or affirmative action policies because Asian Americans are overly represented at the top schools and universities in the United States, even though they remain group in the public's opinion because they are part of the population that makes up the majority--whites. Many will argue that Asian Americans should not be bitter about these ideas and perceptions that shine light on their accomplishments. But, at the same time, this myth has thrown Asian Americans into limelight that has cast shadow on the disturbing numbers of Asian American males and females suffering from behavior problems, substance abuse, and mental health problems. (7) On March 10, 2004, Diana Chen of Cupertino, California, nineteen year old sophomore student at New York University, took her own life by taking the fatal plunge from her midtown Manhattan apartment. …
Publication Year: 2003
Publication Date: 2003-09-22
Language: en
Type: article
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Cited By Count: 1
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