A panel of Asian Americans expressed frustrations about the stereotypes they deal with in the workplace, reports the Stillwater Press.
The discussion at the University of Oklahoma was sponsored by the Asian American Students Association.
“We’ve all had that experience when you do something and that person goes, ‘Oh, you did that – that’s so un-Asian of you,’ or ‘That’s really Asian of you,’ said panelist Nhi Tran who works as a special events coordinator and formerly held a job as a probation officer. Both are occupations the stereotype doesn’t normally associate with Asian Americans.
Rather, AAPIs are often pigeon holed into jobs that require math and not a lot of verbal skills.
“Usually we are very obedient, quiet; we do grunt work,” said Chetana Musapeta. “If you stereotype me,I’m going to challenge you enough to question your own beliefs.”
Ellen Wu (pictured), author of The Color of Success: Asian Americans and the Origins of the Model Minority said in a phone interview that the model minority myth only adds to these perceptions of Asian Americans.
“It flattens a diverse and large a group of people – people who come from very different places, class backgrounds, amount of time in the United States,” she said. “For every successful Asian American – career wise, socioeconomic – there are many Asian Americans who are not affluent – poor, underemployed.”
Wu warns the model minority myth can also lead to anti-blackness. You can rad about that in the Stillwater Press.
Also check out the 30 second video below from Samuele.
