Stereotypes of Asian Americans

Asian Americans are generally seen as

• "model minority"
• slanted eyes
• hard working
• politically inactive
• intelligent, especially in maths or high technology
• productive
• studious
• have elevated their social standing through merit and diligence
• eat everything
• love german beer festivals
• black hair
• love their cameras
• are all into Karate
• reserved
• poor English skills with amateur mistakes
• always friendly, polite
• have no outstanding character
• they all look the same
• American business will fail when Asians own them
• don't have creativity, analytical thinking, divergent thinking, lateral thinking, critical thinking, leadership, verbal and management skills
• can't work in teams
• constantly quote wise men

Asian American men are ... computer nerds less masculine not athletic effeminate disrespectful towards women not attractive small (penis) do womens' work insensitive

Asian American women are ... ladies on the streets and freaks in the bedroom submissive, docile, obedient, reverential can be ordered in a catalogue "Geisha girl", "Dragon ladies", Vixen, sex nymph aggressive sexual beings exotic petite need protection

Origin of those stereotypes

• men wore gowns
• they wore braided hair
• movies like "breakfast at Tiffany's", "Dr. Fu Manchu"...
• they did women's work (e.g. laundry)

Effect of these stereotypes of those stereotypes

• overestimation of Asian Americans' success/wealth => envy, hatred
• expectations (model student ....) put esp. children/teenagers under much pressure
• teachers tend to overlook Asian American students with problems or don't expect them to need help
• alleged success of all Asian Americans obscures those who have problems, are unemployed or the fact that they need higher qualifications to reach the same positions in business etc.

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Sources:

• Video I on Stereotypes
• Asian Americans: Video II on Strerotypes
• Stereotypes of Asian American Students