Impact of Model Minority Stereotype on Asian Americans (Essay Sample)

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Impact of model minority stereotype on Asian Americans and other minority groups
Model minority refers to a group of people in any given country whose members are seen to achieve a higher degree of achievement than the rest of the population. This could either be in terms of income, family stability, educational qualifications or low levels of crime .From mid 19th century; Asian- Americans were regarded as foreign, uncivilized and unwanted. They were branded as ‘yellow peril" and looked down upon as a disgrace to the western society. Because of this racial prejudice leveled against that Asians in America, they were therefore targets of discriminatory legislations and other racial attacks. From the 1960s, this view changed to one of admiration as people of Asian descent became more successful in the American society. From that time till date, Asian Americans have been relatively doing well and thereby have overcome the racial prejudice that was there initially.
Asian Americans are seen as a model minority; an assumption which is incorrect and discriminatory with many negative results to both the Asian American community and other minorities. This is model minority tag disadvantages the minority groups by tearing them apart and also provoking racist tendencies from other groups. Since its Asian Americans who are the model minority, the Native Americans believe that the Asian Americans suffer as a result of their own deficiencies. This belief therefore has created negative feelings towards them and consequently, other minority groups who are not Asians and as a result they cannot therefore identify with the Asians.
Because of this racial prejudice therefore, many families and Asian Americans have remained invisible because of the model minority label. In education, many Asian students’ failures and challenges in academic pursuit go unnoticed because they have accepted the model minority. According to Graham (2010), Asians are regarded as model students who don’t experience failure and their success comes by with ease. This outright discrimination has negative bearing not only to the Asians but also to African Americans and the Latinos. Model minority label brings discord and divisions among people of color rather than uniting them to fight racial discrimination. In addition , this model minority has also led to underrepresentation of Asian American students in gifted programs which is a clear indication that model minority promotes racism. The rationale in this discrimination is that if Asian Americans become successful in gifted programs, then other minority groups like Africans will also demand for successful yet they are regarded as la...