Societal Generalizations & The paradox associated with the "Model Minority Myth"

An analysis of the quotes referenced from the following articles

 The Model Minority: Asian American "Success" as a Race Relations Failure by Frank Wu

"it contains the premise that people can be arranged by racial group, and furthermore, that the differences between racial groups are more significant than either the similarities between racial groups or the differences within them. It makes the race the main feature of an individual as well as the leading division among people..." (Wu, 375)

and

Let Me Work for It! by Isabelle Nguyen

"I have been robbed of the equal chance to prove myself, to see my mistakes and grow. I feel that I have so much to give, but my audience is content with what they 'know' of me...positive and negative stereotyping are different sides of the same coin. Both invalidate individuals as human beings and lead to negative consequences" (Nguyen, 377)

      When it comes to having preconceived notions about groups of people, society seems follow the same pattern which inexorably, has been to focus on generalizations...Racial stereotypes are seen as one of the most common identifiable characteristics associated with people, and whether they accurately represent an individual is entirely irrelevant. Instead, what matters is whether or not the individual fits within the constructs that are accepted by the rest of society. Taking into account the ethical problems associated with this societal behavior, it would seem necessary and apparent to stop using such vast generalizations that denigrate minority groups. More importantly, we should not overlook the fact that even those "positive" and "elitist" generalizations still have extremely adverse effects, as these two articles clearly demonstrate...

      The first focuses on the many intricate details that are associated with the "model minority myth", delving into the different expectations and assumptions that are made about Asian Americans, and later discussing the fact that being labeled as an erudite isn't necessarily a positive stereotype. One of the author's main points in the first article is that by categorizing and generalizing successful people based solely on their race, we have created a societal division that once again places people into categories of comparison among races, rather than allowing for everyone to have an equal chance at being deemed successful. This article explained the many colloquial generalizations that are made regarding the Asian American population, while providing justifiable arguments as to why these seemingly positive assumptions can be truly deleterious.  

      The second article shares a personal experience revolving around preconceived notions about race. Even though the author's personal account is extremely brief, it accurately bolsters the argument that being part of a "model minority" isn't necessarily positive. One of the main points in the second article is the fact that societal generalizations have led to inaccurate assumptions about groups of people, ultimately taking away the importance of an individual's true capability. This can certainly have many negative consequences, as different preconceived expectations are created, and consequently, performance is ultimately not based on an equal scale across races. As seen in the quote above, the author feels that she has been given unreasonably high expectations, and thus an unequal chance of achieving success in comparison to others outside of her minority. When people follow societal views of groups of people without truly taking the time to look at them on an individual level, members of minority groups are not given the respect and true acknowledgement that they deserve. 

      I truly enjoyed reading these two articles, as they focused on a topic that (as a caucasian male), I was truly unaware of. Growing up in a rather diverse school population, I certainly understood that there were different societal expectations across different races, but I never took the time to actually examine their consequences. I found it enlightening to learn about how something that could seem like such a "positive" stereotype can in fact have severely negative consequences. Both articles opened my eyes to the fact that by setting the bar high for some cohorts, we are ironically limiting their ability to successfully establish an identity outside of our expectations. On a microcosmic personal note, due to geographical location, students at my undergraduate institution (Queens College in Flushing, Queens, NY), were predominantly of Asian background. It was not uncommon for many of my classmates to naively assume that their Asian friends would do the best work and/or have the most knowledge about certain topics in class, thus there were many instances where my friends would recruit those "gifted" students for group projects. Ironically, in an attempt to break out of the cliche mold, some of these students really didn't put any effort in, and in fact were a hindrance on the group's project. I would always try to make a conscious effort when picking my group members, as I would base my decision on their diligence and knowledge once I began to get to know them, rather than by ignorantly thinking they'd just know it all because of their race...

 

      In general, we should not make assumptions about most things in life, especially people. By taking the time to truly learn about people on an individual level, we can gain a better understanding of who they are as a person, thus establishing an identity as an individual rather than as part of an expected "model" cohort...

      "You can't judge a book by its cover" - this old homage speaks volumes to the issue of race...(had to throw that pun in there)...

Thanks for reading!