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.