Who made these stereotypes? Media or Asian American?

            People believe stereotypes are nothing but assuming other’s characteristics in one group. However, people do not understand there are more serious affects that can lead people to death. In Psychology, there is a term called stereotype threat. The stereotype threat is to be aware of a negative stereotype, which can affect oneself physically and mentally, and often leading oneself to impair in performance. People will think if this word does even exist, but apparently they do exist. The word was created because stereotypes can seriously affect people’s mind.

            The stereotype itself may have been more emphasized because the media continues to portray Asian American in the same way as they did in the past. However, just because media portrays in the films, shows, and magazines will change the people to start thinking in a certain way that stereotypes do exist. The reason the stereotypes are going on is because Asian American themselves slowly trying to fit themselves into the stereotypes. Therefore, people can view as Asian American making their own stereotypes. Media pushed themselves a lot to get some interesting attentions to grab the audience as business reason. Then, even people know the media is only doing it make money, people tend to watch it and believe it. Therefore, when Asian American group is studying, they believe they have to be one who should get an A in the math and science class, they should be the top 10 of their class, they should be the one who should be able to get into ivy league colleges. Then, they have these mindsets in their head and try to move forward to achieve their goals. Therefore, if the life does not go the way each individual wished to go, they get stress, they worry about what their parents are going to say, and slowly vanish away.

            With those stereotypes in their mind, the stereotype threat is always leaving them the negative affects. Even though no one is mentioning “come on, Asian American should get perfect score in math,” each individual student is already thinking this in his or her head. Therefore, like Steele says it will not positively affect them, but more negative affects. Therefore, the stereotype threat can leave them with serious decisions, which can physically harm them. And the students who weren’t satisfied with their achievement will think they are not Asian, they don’t belong in this ethnicity. Therefore, people should be careful with their words especially about stereotypes. Even though it may seem too late to change those stereotypes, but everyone should try their best to change from now on.

Your're not alone.....

Guofang Li from State University Of New York at Buffalo (Other People's Success: Impact of the "Model Minority" Myth on Underachieving Asian Students in North America) noted that the image of model minority serve as visible models for other less motivated racial groups in proper behaviors, attitudes and work ethic. As mention earlier, Kyung Yoon who said not all Asians Americans are working in high skilled occupations there are some who are working in low playing jobs 24/7. In the beginning of the interview, Yoon mention that one of her friends who is African American said to her “What’s with being the model minority, ill love my community stereotyped as being hardworking, studious and successful”. Other racial groups such as Hispanic/ Latinos and African Americans are also being misrepresented in the media.

 "Portrayal of African Americans in the Media: An Examination of Law and Order" by Shannon T. Isaacs (Department of Sociology in Pennsylvania State University), examine the portrayal of African Americans in the media, within the television crime drama Law and Order, and will be used to determine whether the media exaggerates its portrayal of African America in the media. Shannon T revealed that African Americans were portrayed to be aggressive, involved in gang and crime activity. Based on the figures the depictions made in both season 1 and 20 were not represented to the actual population and crime that occurred, that is 28. 3% were African Americans and 69.2% were Whites for violent crime arrests in 2008.( Isaacs 1)

                     (Here is an example of how African Americans are represented in media)

On the other hand Hispanics/ Latinos are also being portrayed negatively in media. Jamie Pehil who wrote about "Latinos in Media" stated that very common portrayals of Hispanics/ Latinos in media and negative such as characters who are seen in films play roles as poor, uneducated, lazy and violent. 

An example of these commonly stereotypes of Hispanic/Latinos are seen in a film called “A Better Life” which depicted a gardener in East L.A, struggles to keep his son away from gangs and immigrant agents while trying to give his son the opportunity had.  Although the film shows the daily struggle Hispanics/Latinos go through, it still portrays negative stereotype were Hispanic/Latino teenagers are not focus in school and involve in gangs. 

                        (Here is an example of how Hispanics/Latinos are portrayed in media) 

After researching how media portrays different ethnic groups, I learned that the media gives false images of Asian Americans, Hispanic/Latino, African Americans. 

How a Professor Sees Model Minority

Doctor Nicholas D. Hartlep, who is an assistant professor of Educational Foundations at Illinois State University, had made a statement about the model minorities in the United States in Commentary on the Model Minority . He researches model minority stereotype and teaching for social justice. Society views Asian American model minorities as a positive and a successful thing. So we ask, why do Asian Americans, those who are immigrant and those who are born here, appear to be doing so well in school and everyday life? Doctor Hartlep states that “One reason may be that the popular press and news media publish and broadcast stories that selectively omit facts and perspectives that would delegitimize the sterling stereotype” (Hartlep 1). This means that media show many different presentations involving Asian Americans only on issues related to the model minority stereotypes. He also states that “…many successful Asian Americans perpetuate the myth themselves, profiting professionally and personally” (Hartlep 1). This got me to think the other side of people’s thoughts related to model minority. Maybe other Asian Americans love to be called the model minority all the time. This can maybe profit them and make them become more professional. This is probably the reason why Asian American parents push their kids now so that they can have the better future later.

Doctor Hartlep has mentioned that “Asian Americans have been documented to be overrepresented in K-12 gifted and talented education programs and underrepresented in K-12 Special Education programs” (Hartlep 1). There has been also documentation to face serious health issues, such as high rates of cancer, physical and domestic abuse, and gang membership. Due to the model minority stereotypes, it creates false projection to Asian Americans’ traits and personality. Since people believe that all Asian Americans are model minority, the other Americans grow hate towards them. Therefore, there should be a decreasing amount towards the Asian American model minority stereotypes.

Understanding of Model Minority

Based on NCA (National Communication Association), the most recognized stereotype dealing with Asian American students is the model minority stereotype. Therefore, Professor Qin Zhang, an assistant professor at Fairfield University, gives us her Perceptions of Asian American Students: Stereotypes and Effects. Asian American stereotypes are traditionally shown through variety of representations. “Asian Americans are proclaimed as a model minority for academic excellence, affluence, strong work ethic, freedom from problems and crime, and family cohesion” (NCA, 1). However, what creates these stereotypes that build up among Asian Americans? The model minority stereotype started and popularized in the 1960s. The model minority stereotype is known for Asian Americans’ academic excellence, strong work ethics, family cohesion, etc. They would be one of the few who are over achievers, with great amount of intelligence.

            The model minority stereotype can also cause psychological and mental distress, based on American Psychological Association's Office of Ethnic Minority Affairs (OEMA). One reason is because the society creates a certain views that all Asian Americans have to be smart and intelligent. By creating this false fact, it is no wonder many Asian Americans are stressed at such a young age. Therefore based on American Psychological Association, Asian American students consider suicide many times, due to many stress caused by this stereotype. Therefore, many should recognize how hard Asian Americans, especially students, suffer due to this unreasonable idea of all Asian Americans being smart and intelligent.

            In the television series, Heroes, there is one character acted by Hiro Nakamura, who plays a character who is quiet, shy, and humble, with a poor English accent. Many times, the model minority is always portrayed as poor communicators in many media mainstream. People believe it is all about work, mathematician, and no fun, because of what the media shows to the audience. This model minority stereotypes have to stop. It creates distress among many other innocent, fellow Asian Americans, especially students. Because of the continuous stereotypes, it disturbs Asian Americans in doing what they do in their daily lives. So let us forget all the stereotypes and live in equality.

How Model Minority Stereotypes affect Asian American students

We always see model minority stereotypes dealing with Asian Americans, but how does it affect them regarding their academic performance? Kyle Mori, a Yahoo! contributor, made a statement regarding How Model Minority Stereotype Affects Asian Americans and Their Performance in School "Model minority refers to the idea that Asian Americans are successful because of their strong work ethic, family cohesion, and their ability to assimilate to American society” (Gotanda, 94). I believe the model minority stereotype is the reason why Asian Americans push harder to do even better on their education. Therefore, the model minority stereotype dealing with Asian Americans is a positive stereotype because it pushes Asian American students to do even better on their academics and educations.

            Many people tried to figure whether having great intelligence is genetics or just pure hard work. Samuel Morton has experimented by adding sands to 800 skulls from different countries in order to see which has more capacity inside the skulls. Based on the result, it was determined that the English has more capacity. Then what does this mean as to dealing the model minority stereotypes dealing with Asian Americans? It seems that IQ tests matters, although it is still not the best way to measure one’s intelligence. In the video, Race - The Power of an Illusion, a student did a research on DNAs based on different race and as a result, there are few differences that between each race. Therefore, this can mean that intelligence is based on experiences and cultural values that each people have. Families also play a big part as to creating Asian Americans being a model minority. This is probably because parents influence you to have a bright future as they grow up. By this, the respect that the Asian American teens have towards their parents shows that they have to follow being the model minority so that they can make their parents proud. Overall, the model minority stereotypes would affect Asian Americans with positive attitude and enthusiastic actions.

Stereotypes in the film: The Perfect Score

In the film The Perfect Score, directed by Brian Robbins, the lead characters and the rest of the cast are Caucasian, except for one Asian American named Leonardo Nam, who plays the role of Roy.

While the other main characters are all fairly normal people, the single Asian character of Roy definitely embodies a stereotype that lasts throughout the entire film. Whenever Roy enters the scene, the mood changes. He is portrayed as the funny and clumsy character who is not attractive to women. He is however, good at math, which makes the team need him to figure out the password, so that they can steal the SAT answer key. However, the team thinks he is an unnecessary person because he is very clumsy and stupid – they are just using him, showing that they do not consider him a real friend.

Because his character is that of funny guy, whenever he comes out and does pot, plays video games, or makes funny comments, the background music of the film changes as well, into light, soft music that fits his character. Through the sound associated with the character, the movie’s mood is changed.

The question is, why does the Asian American have to play the funny and ridiculous character? Why can’t the character be Caucasian? If a Caucasian male did the role, it would not be as funny because he is Caucasian. It was funny and “made sense” because an Asian American played Roy’s character. This is because the Asian American stereotype has existed for such a long time that it has almost become natural. The stereotype has a big impact on Asian Americans and whatever they do; it follows them like a scarlet letter.

The film industry plays a major part in the existence of these stereotypes, because most people get the ideas from movies; therefore the industry should try not to incorporate stereotypes, because not everyone falls perfectly into these categories.

Asian Americans in Hollywood:

The Asian Americans model minority stereotypes have impacted society more due to the way the media use and portray Asian American characters. The model minority stereotype of Asian American characters makes the audience think that every Asian American is smart, unattractive, and aces all tests.

In modern media, the stereotype of Asians as the “model minority” is still common. However, the media’s portrayal and emphasis of these stereotypes has negative effects on the Asian Americans, such as uncomfortable peer pressure and unreasonable peer expectations. The reality is that while there are, in fact, Asian Americans who are more intelligent than the average person, there are also Asian Americans who are less intelligent. Everyone is different and people cannot judge by the stereotypes that generalize members simply because of ethnicity.

One example is the film, Better Luck Tomorrow written and directed by Chinese American Justin Lin, he incorporates the Asian American model minority stereotypes into his characters.  For example, Ben is depicted as a typical Asian who tries to get into college and get good grades. There is also Steve, another guy who does many extracurricular activities to look good on his college applications. When five of the students get into trouble, one of them, Vigil, is heard mentioning that his parents are going to kill him. This is illustrative of the idea that Asian Americans have helicopter parents that stress overachievement and good behavior.

In media, Asian Americans are portrayed as the only group of overachievers, but in reality, people of other ethnicities work just as hard to get into college and succeed in life. There are many other films such as The Debut, The Perfect Score, The Pingpong Playa, and Shanghai Calling that reflect model minority stereotypes, but the Asian American population is misrepresented by the stereotypes portrayed in film and television. Hollywood and the movie industry should work on giving Asian Americans roles that do not reflect these stereotypes.

If It Makes Money? Why Not?

As mention before the image of model minority that has been given to Asian Americans to their affluence, high education, and professional occupations these aspects of Asian Americans have a negative impact because not Asian Americans are achieving the “American Dream”. In a study from The Asian American Federation revealed that in 2000, nearly 1 in 5 Asians (19.6 percent or 152,674 people) lived below the poverty level and 40.9 percent (318,910 people) lived below twice the federal poverty. (Asian American Federation)

The media has the power to pacify, manipulate, and informed people, in which often times give society misinformation or fraud aspects of race, language, nationality, and culture. The cultivation theory created by George Gorbner and Larry Grass who are researchers at the University Of Pennsylvania, stated that the more time people spend watching television, they develop the perception of social reality portrayed on television. By examining the cultivation theory, the media plays an important role on how society defines the characteristics of racial groups. The stereotype of Model Minority is being portrayed in advertisements that would benefit corporate industries by using Asian Americans to advertise their products. Charles R. Taylor, Stacy Landreth and Hae-Kyong are journalists of Macromarketing (Asian American in Magazine Advertising: Portrays of the Model Minority) conducted a study and revealed that in product categories a consumer responds positively to Asian male in technical advertisements such as laptops and stereo speakers were as in food or men’s suits advertisements it will have negative respond. These studies gives us a better understanding of how themedia uses model minority in there advertisements.

(The Asian American women plays as the car dealer were typically Asian Americans are viewed as talented in engineering field).

Gorbner suggested that when media continues to portray stereotype it would result the acceptance of the stereotype as reality. Grey’s Anatomy series on ABC is an example of media portrays the stereotype of model minority. Sandra Oh who’s character is Dr. Christian Yang, is viewed as ambitious and completive. Although, it shows that Asian Americans are skilled in Science fields continuous portrayals of model minority affect Asians Americans the same point argued by Yuko Kawai who stated the negative aspect made Asian Americans a two faced; that not all Asians Americans were high achieving and successful. This is reason why the media is powerful tool because it could give false representations of ethnic group characteristics.

Why do people still push it?

When a person says the “model minority” stereotype is a “good” one, it reflects surface-level and superficial view of the stereotype. The Asian American “model minority” stereotypes, as many people know it, portrays Asian Americans as being very smart, very wealthy, poor at sports, and having high test scores. However, people will explore the stereotype more in depth, he or she soon would realize the negative aspects.

In 2007, a teenage girl committed suicide because she could no longer handle the pressure put upon her to achieve high academic results. She always had a stress over acing the test, getting good grades.This is evidence of how the media’s use of stereotypes can have enough influence to make a person’s life miserable. 

The stereotypes presented in a film can make a person of the stereotyped group feel inadequate, particularly if it is an Asian American who does not fit the ‘model minority’ description.

To some people, a film with stereotypes may be funny and interesting to watch, but to others it can be devastating, especially if a stereotype is degrading. Even if it is not, there can be unreasonable expectations that come with stereotypes such as that of the model minority. The article mentions that people begin to think extremely negative things because they feel as though they cannot live up to others’ expectations; this despair eventually leads them to commit suicide.

If we were to go more in depth, we would realize that once the ideas associated with stereotypes are planted in a person’s mind, it is extremely hard to get rid of them. Despite this, society should try not to apply stereotypes to people, because the effects of these stereotypes can lead to extreme situations.  Therefore, many Asian Americans would strongly disagree, and explain that everyone is different and the stereotype should not be applied. 

Myth Busting Model Minority!

Many questions arose for Asian Americans on their achievements such as why are Asian Americans so successful. Authors like Amy Chua states that the reason why Asian kids are successful because cultural and family values play an important role. However, in a video called  "Myth Busting Model Minority Asian Americans Stereotype" Kyung Yoon who is executive director of a Korean American Community Foundation, she emphasizes that not all Asian Americans are working in high skilled occupations there are some who are working in low paying jobs 24/7. Which statistics are shown in an article called “Working but Poor: Asian American Poverty in New York”. In 2000, nearly 1 in 5 Asians lived below the poverty and 40.9 percent lived below twice the federal poverty (in the low income bracket) lower than other ethnic groups (Hispanic and Blacks)(The Asian American Federation 1). Another statistic show that among young adults (age 16 to 24) in New York City, poor and low-income Asians are more apt to be in school and less likely to be disconnected from employment or education that youths of large (The Asian American Federation 1). Additionally, there are many Asian Americans ethnic groups that are not doing well compared to the rest of the U.S population. According to the 2000 census, Cambodians over 90 percent of their population do not have a bachelor’s degree (De Navas-Walt C, et al).  These statistics revealed that not all Asians are high achieving individuals and work in high occupations.

Kyung Yoon further on explains about Asian American adolescents not being supervise or guided at home, the lack of parental care can result in most teenagers joining gangs. Additionally, in a specific scene in Better Luck Tomorrow shows Asian Americans in gang involvement (Darlic, Han, Virgirl and Ben are driving around and a car drive next to them, who are Asian gang members). This film in particular subverts the stereotypes of model minority; were these four Asian Americans are not only high achieving and intellectual individuals but also could be adventurous and notorious individuals.