The model minority myth isn’t going away, and it’s damaging the mental health of Asian Americans.
The concept is deeply ingrained in American history: Like most newly arrived ethnic groups, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders were viewed as outcasts and faced harsh discrimination when they first arrived in the United States in the mid-19th century. law.They were viewed as a “yellow peril,” deemed unclean and unworthy of U.S. citizenship.
But by the 1960s, Asian Americans were portrayed as America’s “model minority”—a group whose hard work, personal responsibility, and achievements proved that the American dream was possible for all.
The model minority myth has clear harmful effects on the racial and ethnic groups it leaves out. By casting Asian Americans as mass immigration success stories, those who believe the United States is a color-blind society can downplay the role of racism in the ongoing struggles of other marginalized groups in the United States
But the model minority idea also hurts Asian and Pacific Islanders themselves. Stereotyping Asians has proven to be a huge problem when dealing with recent anti-Asian hate crimes during the COVID-19 pandemic; draw attention to the rampant verbal and physical abuse your community is facing Discrimination, that’s not like being a model minority.
Below, therapists who specialize in Asian American mental health share how this myth trivializes the Asian American experience and negatively affects the mental health of the Asian American community.
1. The expectations for academic and career success can feel impossible to meet.
“Smart.” “Hardworking.” “Okay.” In a recent poll by LAAUNCH, a nonprofit organization that studies issues in the Asian American community, these were the words when respondents were asked to describe Asian Americans. The most commonly mentioned adjective.
If Asian Americans are all smart, polite, hard-working people, this myth can make you feel like you’re bad and lazy if it’s not so easy to be book smart and have easy relationships. If you are not stereotyped, you have the power to define success on your own terms; living within the strict constraints of the model minority narrative, the bar for success is preset and high.
The stress associated with this begins early.When your identity is tied to success, getting a B or C+ on a midterm exam can send you into a tailspin and make you question your self-worth.
2. The myth suggests Asian Americans face less racism than other people of color.
As with other minority groups, the model minority myth conveniently ignores the violence and systemic racism that Asian Americans face.
COVID-19 has made it impossible to ignore this.Since the outbreak began, reporting forum Stop AAPI Hate has tracked nearly 11,000 hate incidents against AAPI people between March 19, 2020, and December 31, 2021, and the FBI reported that such hate-motivated There has also been a spike in violence.
Asians are well aware that racism exists against the group, but personal stories of discrimination or exclusion are often ignored or downplayed due to the model minority myth.
3. At the same time, the model minority myth hides the economic realities of many Asian Americans.
Which brings us to the next myth in the mythology: Not all Asians are rich. There is a common perception that all Asians are high achievers and high earners, but this masks the poverty faced by many in the community. A 2018 Pew Research Center report showed that the wealth gap between Asian Americans is the largest among all ethnic groups. People in the top 10 percent of the income distribution earn almost 11 times as much as those in the bottom, a gap that has existed since the 1970s.
There are as many households with incomes above the median as there are households with incomes well below the median.
As NBC News reported in October, some of the most common occupations for low-income Asian Americans in urban areas like New York City are restaurants and food services, taxi and limousine services, nail salons and other personal care services.
For those working professionally, there is a “bamboo ceiling” to overcome. It’s a play on the “glass ceiling” — a term many Asians dislike because of its stereotyping — and the “bamboo ceiling,” an invisible barrier that systematically excludes Asians from leadership positions. Outside, despite their success in the workplace and in school.
4. They’re less likely to seek out mental health help.
Culturally, many Asian Americans are taught to internalize feelings and not seek outside help, even if it means struggling in silence. The model minority myth further suggests that you have nothing to complain about.
Many Asian Americans suffer from conditions such as depression or suicidal ideation and are unable to seek help because of the shame and traumatic stress that comes with it. Others who struggle to succeed may develop mental health issues due to unrealistic pressure from themselves and/or family members.
Asian Americans are the racial group least likely to seek mental health services in the United States, and when they do, they face cultural barriers. According to one study, AAPI clients report lower satisfaction with services and less confidence in their providers due to a lack of culturally responsive therapies.
5. Not all Asians are considered model minority enough.
The model minority myth does not assume that all Asians are equal.
For Southeast Asians, we may be forced to conform to model minority standards while also being told that we are not Asian enough because our group may often struggle with issues such as educational attainment.
Still, the model minority was and still is stressful because it determines who is included and celebrated in the community and who is excluded, leading to feelings of sadness, isolation, or being misunderstood.
6. They fall into careers and fields they’re disinterested in.
Another myth about Asians is that they are particularly gifted in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) fields. Many times, parents also exert undue pressure. The cliché is that your Asian parents want you to “be an engineer, a doctor, or a lawyer.”
7. It distances people from their culture.
Assimilation is the ultimate goal of the model minority success story; as a result, you often lose touch with your culture.
How To Combat The Model Minority Myth In Your Own Life
If all of this resonates, there are ways to counter the concept.Below, therapists offer some advice.
1. Take ownership of your individual accomplishments.
When you succeed in an endeavor—doing well in a final or advocating for a raise—individualize the success. You did it. There’s no guarantee of a spot at the poker table, it definitely requires hard work.
2. Realize the roots of the model minority myth.
Remember: When it comes to the model minority myth, it’s not personal, it’s political.If some parts of this myth sound foreign to you, it’s because it wasn’t created with an understanding of the actual nuances and daily experiences of Asian Americans.
This is to let Asian Americans know that they are better or smarter than blacks, Latinos, and indigenous people, which in turn leads to hostility between communities. I really want Asian Americans to realize that this myth has been created to pit Asians against other communities of color.
3. Embrace your culture.
Assimilation can cause you to distance yourself from your own culture. To combat this, immerse yourself in life experiences that celebrate your background, not just books and movies filled with positive representation.(Though these are great too!) Think: Standing over snacks with grandma, attending the annual Oshogatsu celebration with lion dance (shishi-mai) and live taiko drumming, or getting your kids involved in making your own The art of rangoli flooring diwali.
4. Invest time to build and maintain a great support system.
It’s important to have someone to talk to about this sort of thing – a group of people who know how exhausting this myth is and are actively trying to move beyond it.
It’s important to express your feelings and frustrations when you encounter these stereotypes to someone you trust so they can help you cope with its impact, and it’s your burden if you continue to hold on to these stereotypes that you know are not true Can be heavy.
5. Find a therapist who specializes in Asian American mental health.
While it’s entirely possible to find a white therapist who is culturally competent to deal with the unique experiences of Asian Americans, many may never bring up racial or ethnic differences due to their own discomfort or lack of awareness.
Doing this kind of emotional labor in your own therapy can be tiring, so don’t feel bad if you’re looking for a therapist who works primarily with Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.
Therapy should be a space that works for you, where you can rest or break down and be who you are.
6. Educate others by talking openly about your experiences.
Don’t hide the struggles you face because of the model minority assumption, whether you’re surrounded by other Asians or non-Asians.
Sharing stories is a great way to raise awareness in a non-judgmental way, talk about it freely. Then we must dare to live our true selves, dream big, and not let ourselves be constrained by these stereotypes. Sometimes we allow ourselves to be there without a reason.