Ibarra 1

Jazmine Ibarra

Sarah Thaller

Fire Cohort

7 March 2021

Research Draft

PART 1: Why is it expected that all Asian people are smart just because they are Asian?

PART 2: What I learned: (min of three paragraphs)

1. History/background of the topic/question at-hand (this should be at least two paragraphs)

One thing that I learned about my topic is about the model minority myth. The model minority

myth, described by the University of Southern California, is “​damaging for Asian Americans and other

students of color. The model minority myth pits students of color against each other and ignores the

reality of systemic racism that Asian Americans continue to encounter​” (USC Pacific Asia Museum &

APASA, n.d.). The term originates from an article written by William Petersen in 1966. This article was

called, “Success story: Japanese American style.” Petersen, among many other articles that I read,

explained that hard work and strong family values are the reasons why Asian Americans are/were able to

become successful and overcome discrimination.

However, Petersen overlooked the US immigration law, “The 1965 Immigration Act”, which

“reversed years of restrictive immigraiton policies that virtually banned all immigration from Asia,

allowing for a greater number of immigrants to enter the United States from non-Western countries,

including countries in Asia and Latin America. Although this act lifted previous geographic restrictions, it

allowed only those with certain background to enter the United States. After immediate family members

of those already in the United States, the second priority was recruiting professionals and scientists. As a

result, a large influx of highly-educated professionals (such as doctors and engineers) and scientists from

Asia left their home countries after 1965 and immigrated to the United States. It is this group of Asian

Americans, and their children, that make up a significant portion of the Asian American community

today. A radical change in US immigration policy can thus explain some of the individual success stories
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profiled in popular press articles describing Asian American success” (Kasinitz et al., 2008). The phrase

or term, “model minority myth” is this way “because many scholars have argued that the assumptions that

Asian Americans are doing well is overgeneralized and inaccurate” (Kasinitz et al., 2008). While it is true

that some Asian Americans are more well off than others, that is not the case for all Asian American

ethnic groups.

I’m sure that there are some Asian Americans that follow the model minority myth and think of it

in a positive light, while others resist it due its negative

2. What did you assume the history or background would be? Explain. Were you surprised at the

truth? Explain. (one paragraph)

I’m aware of the Asian American stereotype because I faced it all throughout my life. Sometimes

I thought it was a positive thing to be called and expected to be smart, high achieving, shy, hard working,

but over the years, I’ve seen the downsides of it. My mental health and friendships have suffered because

of this, and my experience is similar to that of other Asian American narratives I read about (USC Pacific

Asia Museum & APASA). I wasn’t surprised by the truth when I read about it, but I was still

disappointed. Whenever I talked to my grandparents, or even my aunts and uncles, they always talked

about how hard life was in the Philippines, how difficult it was to learn English, how hard it was for their

parents. Their parents had to work multiple jobs and spend more time working than spending time with

them, but they understood. The only reason that they struggle to understand their kids is because they

lived a different life. Our life is different than theirs and that will ring true for almost all parents and their

kids. Another example would be conversations I’ve had with my mom about her childhood. She would

often tell me that she learned how to do things on her own at a young age (ex. Cooking, cleaning,

babysitting, laundry, etc.) because her parents weren’t around, they were busy working. She’d have to

walk everywhere when she was younger, do her homework by herself, and like the model minority myth,

she rarely asked for help because she couldn’t. It’s not that she didn’t need help, she just couldn’t ask for

it because help was rarely available.

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Many articles have pointed out that Asian Americans earn more money and have a higher

education than other ethnic groups, namely Whites, due to their hard work and family values, but that

generalization is incredibly damaging. Yes, ​some​ Asian Americans earn more money and have a higher

education than other ethnic groups, but one should not make that assumption about ​all​ Asian Americans.

Being human, unique, and different in our own special ways is what makes us similar. Making mistakes,

breaking down, getting up, and asking for help shouldn’t make anyone, especially Asian Americans feel

like they are stupid, not good enough, or weak. Discrimination, specifically racial discrimination is not

something that is behind us. So many sacrifices were made by the grandparents, parents, and relatives of

Asian Americans to get to whatever point in their life they are now. I was angered reading an article about

my background written by a White male, who agreed that the model minority myth is a positive

stereotype that has led to the success of Asian Americans in schools due to the “hard work, strong

families and passion for education” (Kristof, 2015). Some Asian Americans live in poverty, suffer from

mental illnesses, are not interested in the sciences, medical field, mathematics, playing the piano, an

instrument in orchestra, are not shy, studious, smart, or come from a two-parent household. What is true

for one Asian American family, or any other family of a different ethnic background, cannot be held to be

true for all families. The model minority myth masks Asian American’s struggles and does not let others

see otherwise.

3. Did you find any inconsistencies in the information between sources? Explain. Why do you think

that is? (one paragraph)

As I mentioned in my previous response, there were inconsistencies in the information between

sources. Apart from the fact that most of the articles I skimmed through were not written by those who

were Asian American, there was also the fact that the immigration act was not talked about very much. It

was left out of the article, and instead went on to say that Asian American success and overcoming

discrimination comes from their hard work, strong family values, and a two-parent household. I mean, is

it wrong for some Asian Americans to want to follow in their parents’ footsteps? I don’t see any other

race being discriminated against or bullied because they want to become a doctor, scientist, pharmacist,
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nurse, etc. like their parents. There is a lack of presence of Asian Americans in the media, in comparison

to those who are White or Black. The world isn’t just Black and White. There are other colors, shades,

and hues in this world. Another thing that was missing was the fact that the model minority myth was

created to pit Asian Americans against Black Americans. It’s a horrible thing. All of these things are

social constructs that are destroying our society and our ability to make meaningful connections with

other people. Moreover, Asian Americans are also human. We are not machines, we are not perfect, not

all of us are good at math, are smart, study all the time, are reserved and quiet, and all of the other things

that I can’t think of at the moment. Petersen claimed that, “Every attempt to hamper their progress

resulted only in enhancing their determination to succeed” (Petersen, 1966), while Kristof claims that

Asian Americans have the advantage of being highly educated and “These immigrants are

disproportionately doctors, research scientists, and other highly educated professionals” (Kristof, 2015).

It’s not as if White people don’t have access to education. Any person who wants a higher education can

get one, even if it’s community college or even going to a 4-year university. The reason that Whites and

others may include these inconsistencies in their articles about Asian Americans is probably because they

are not Asian American. They have no idea what it is like to be in the shoes of someone who is

immigrated for their race, be forced into concentration camps such as the Japanese Americans, and also

suffer silently against this harmful stereotype.

PART 3: Reaction/Looking forward (MIN of one paragraph)

1. Why do you believe this still exists/occurs?

I believe that this model minority stereotype/myth still exists because it has not been addressed

enough. There is not much in the media that talks about the hate, violence, and discrimination that Asian

Americans face. Most times, and I speak from experience, Asian Americans do not voice out their

problems. Is it because people think we are such hard workers that they should take us down a notch? Do

our eyes and accents disturb you that much? I don’t understand why there is so much hate in this world. I

don’t want to put the blame on some Whites, but there is plenty of history of their racism, greed, hate, and
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violence towards other races than their own. Maybe this still happens because some Asian Americans are

not speaking up and other people are also not advocating for them.

2. How do you feel about that?

I don’t feel happy about the model minority stereotype/myth along with all the hate, violence, and

discrimination that Asian Americans face. Recently, I’ve started reading more articles and such pertaining

to Asian Americans and it is so terrible. It makes me feel sad and scared. What the cops did to Angelo

Quinto, an Asian American, was similar to that of George Floyd, a Black man. There are so many cases

popping up now about Asian Americans being attacked, robbed from, injured, and overall discriminated

against, just because of our race. What is so wrong about being a race other than White? It does make us

any less valuable or more valuable than other people in this world.

3. Do you think people should know the origin of this? What do you think that would do?

I do think that people should know the origin of this. I think that it would do some harm to those

who believe they follow the stereotype of the model minority myth, but all Asian Americans deserve to

know about the things that are happening to our AAPI community. We are capable of supporting one

another. I know it must be scary to point it out on our own, but there is strength in numbers. I think it

would do some good to those who are supportive of those in the AAPI community, so they can also

spread the word about this and the harm that it can bring to their friends, family members, or people that

they know that identify as Asian American.

4. What questions do you still have about the topic? What would you still like to know?

I’d like to know what makes people think that it’s a positive thing to conclude that just because

we are Asian, it automatically means that we are smart, hard working, good at math, science, or anything

pertaining to education. I’d like to know what makes people think that’s it’s okay to make fun of Asian

American’s accents, their eyes, or customs. I don’t see anyone making fun of White people for celebrating

the Fourth of July, having a barbecue, eating a cheeseburger, fries, and being blonde or having blue eyes.

I’d like to know where the hate for Asian Americans comes from. Is it resentment? Jealousy? I’d like to
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know why there hasn’t been a movement supporting my AAPI people because our community is clearing

suffering in more ways than one. I hope to be of some help to my community through social media.

PART 4: Links

1. https://pacificasiamuseum.usc.edu/exhibitions/online-exhibitions/debunking-the-model-minority-

myth/

2. https://depts.washington.edu/sibl/Publications/Model%20Minority%20Section%20(2011).pdf

3. http://inside.sfuhs.org/dept/history/US_History_reader/Chapter14/modelminority.pdf

4. https://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/11/opinion/sunday/the-asian-advantage.html?auth=link-dismis

s-google1tap

5. https://www.motherjones.com/crime-justice/2021/02/please-dont-kill-me-angelo-quinto-pleaded-t

he-cops-kneeled-on-his-neck-for-four-minutes/

6. https://www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/2017/04/19/524571669/model-minority-myth-again-use

d-as-a-racial-wedge-between-asians-and-blacks

7. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/behind-model-minority-myth-why-studious-asian-

stereotype-hurts-n792926

8. https://cmhc.utexas.edu/modelminority.html