ASIAN AMERICANS: ASIAN AMERICANS: GROWTH AND GROWTH AND

DIVERSITYDIVERSITYCHAPTER 12CHAPTER 12

Asian Americans and Pacific Asian Americans and Pacific IslandersIslanders

• Diverse group that is one of the fastest Diverse group that is one of the fastest growing segments of US populationgrowing segments of US population

• Includes Chinese Americans and Includes Chinese Americans and FilipinosFilipinos

• Includes the Includes the HmongHmong that do not that do not correspond to any one nationcorrespond to any one nation

• See See “race and ethnicity”“race and ethnicity” in America in America framed as a Black-White issueframed as a Black-White issue– ““Tri-racial”Tri-racial”

• Hispanics that are now added to Black-White Hispanics that are now added to Black-White racial issueracial issue

The “Model Minority” Image The “Model Minority” Image ExploredExplored

• General image people in US hold General image people in US hold of Asian Americans as a groupof Asian Americans as a group

• Despite prejudice and Despite prejudice and discrimination, succeededdiscrimination, succeeded– Economically, socially, and Economically, socially, and

educationally without political or educationally without political or violent confrontations with Whitesviolent confrontations with Whites

• Variation of blaming the victim – Variation of blaming the victim – “praising the victim”“praising the victim”

Education and the EconomyEducation and the Economy• Impressive school enrollment compared to Impressive school enrollment compared to

the total populationthe total population• 20042004

– 49.4% Asian Americans, 25 or older had Bachelor 49.4% Asian Americans, 25 or older had Bachelor degrees compares with 30.6% of Whitesdegrees compares with 30.6% of Whites

• Often viewed as successful overachievers, Often viewed as successful overachievers, butbut– Have unrecognized and overlooked needsHave unrecognized and overlooked needs– Experience discomfort and harassment on Experience discomfort and harassment on

campuscampus– Under-represented on college campusesUnder-represented on college campuses– Experience stress and alienation on campusExperience stress and alienation on campus

• Asian Americans as group have more formal Asian Americans as group have more formal schooling than Whitesschooling than Whites

• Occupationally Asian Americans occupy Occupationally Asian Americans occupy mid-level occupations and are under-mid-level occupations and are under-represented in top management positions represented in top management positions in corporate America in corporate America

• Glass ceiling and glass wall impact on Glass ceiling and glass wall impact on upward mobilityupward mobility

• Do well in small family owned and operated Do well in small family owned and operated businessesbusinesses

• AgricultureAgriculture• Middlemen MinoritiesMiddlemen Minorities

– Occupy jobs within the middle of the Occupy jobs within the middle of the occupational structure rather than the bottom occupational structure rather than the bottom where racial and ethnic minorities are typically where racial and ethnic minorities are typically locatedlocated

• Another misleading sign of success is high Another misleading sign of success is high income as a groupincome as a group– Approach parity with Whites because of greater Approach parity with Whites because of greater

achievement than Whites in formal schoolingachievement than Whites in formal schooling– Whites earn more than their Asian counterparts Whites earn more than their Asian counterparts

of the same ageof the same age– If education from overseas, they are devalued If education from overseas, they are devalued

by US employersby US employers

• ““Model Minority”Model Minority” stereotype is a stereotype is a disservicedisservice– Excludes Asians from social programs and Excludes Asians from social programs and

conceals unemployment and other social illsconceals unemployment and other social ills– Local governments are eliminating Asian Local governments are eliminating Asian

Americans from the definition of minorityAmericans from the definition of minority

The Door Half OpenThe Door Half Open• Anti-Asian American feeling built on long Anti-Asian American feeling built on long

cultural traditioncultural tradition• Yellow PerilYellow Peril

– Refers to the generalized prejudice toward Asian Refers to the generalized prejudice toward Asian people and their customspeople and their customs

• Asian Americans are often stereotyped and Asian Americans are often stereotyped and ignored or described in negative ways in the ignored or described in negative ways in the mediamedia– OvergeneralizationsOvergeneralizations– Ethnic slursEthnic slurs– Inflammatory reportingInflammatory reporting– Japan bashingJapan bashing– Media invisibilityMedia invisibility– Model minorityModel minority

• Subject to institutional discriminationSubject to institutional discrimination• Marginal status of Asian Pacific Marginal status of Asian Pacific

Islanders leaves them vulnerable to Islanders leaves them vulnerable to selective and collective oppressionselective and collective oppression– 1999 Wen Ho Lee1999 Wen Ho Lee

• Resulted in Asian Americans now viewed as Resulted in Asian Americans now viewed as security riskssecurity risks

• 32% of feel that Chinese Americans more loyal to 32% of feel that Chinese Americans more loyal to China than USChina than US

– Asian Americans avoid top-secret science Asian Americans avoid top-secret science employment because of subjection to racial employment because of subjection to racial profiling at high security levelsprofiling at high security levels

• Young Asians in US struggle for identity Young Asians in US struggle for identity because their heritage is devalued by because their heritage is devalued by those in positions of influencethose in positions of influence

Political ActivityPolitical Activity• Politically Asian Americans tend to be Politically Asian Americans tend to be

less active than other subordinate less active than other subordinate groupsgroups

• Function of Function of – historical influenceshistorical influences– cultural influencescultural influences– demographic influencesdemographic influences

• Immigrants come from nations where Immigrants come from nations where political participation was unheard political participation was unheard from or looked upon with skepticism from or looked upon with skepticism and sometimes fearand sometimes fear

• Six factors why Asian Americans not Six factors why Asian Americans not more active in politicsmore active in politics– Traits needed to become a candidate are Traits needed to become a candidate are

alien to Chinese culturealien to Chinese culture– Older people remember blatant Older people remember blatant

discrimination and tell others to be quiet and discrimination and tell others to be quiet and not attract attentionnot attract attention

– Recent immigrants have no experience with Recent immigrants have no experience with democracy and have distrust of governmentdemocracy and have distrust of government

– Concentration on getting ahead economically Concentration on getting ahead economically and education of their childrenand education of their children

– Careers of the brightest are in business and Careers of the brightest are in business and science, not law or public administrationscience, not law or public administration

– Asian American groups are dispersed and Asian American groups are dispersed and cannot control election of even local cannot control election of even local candidatescandidates

Diversity Among Asian Diversity Among Asian AmericansAmericans

• Census Bureau enumerates 47 Census Bureau enumerates 47 groupsgroups

• Diverse historically, culturally, Diverse historically, culturally, politically, and economicallypolitically, and economically

• Asian IndiansAsian Indians– Pattern of immigrationPattern of immigration

• Between 1820 and 1965 approximately Between 1820 and 1965 approximately 17,000 came17,000 came

• Many came under the 1965 Immigration and Many came under the 1965 Immigration and Naturalization ActNaturalization Act

– Tended to be better educated, urban Tended to be better educated, urban and English speakingand English speaking

– Religious diversityReligious diversity• HinduHindu• SikhsSikhs• MuslimsMuslims• ZoroastriansZoroastrians

– Religious traditions remain strong Religious traditions remain strong among new arrivalsamong new arrivals

– Concern about erosion of traditional family Concern about erosion of traditional family authorityauthority•DesiDesi pronounced (“DAY-see”) pronounced (“DAY-see”)

– Colloquial name for people who trace their Colloquial name for people who trace their ancestry to South Asia, especially Indiaancestry to South Asia, especially India

•Arranged marriagesArranged marriages– Cultural conflicts between national Cultural conflicts between national

traditions and American culturetraditions and American culture

• Filipino AmericansFilipino Americans– Third largest Asian American group in USThird largest Asian American group in US– Considered Asian because of geography, but Considered Asian because of geography, but

physically and culturally, reflect centuries of physically and culturally, reflect centuries of Spanish colonial rule and recent colonial Spanish colonial rule and recent colonial occupation of USoccupation of US

– Immigration divided into four distinct periodsImmigration divided into four distinct periods• First group in the 1920’s; male and employed in First group in the 1920’s; male and employed in

agricultureagriculture• Second group as contract workers in Hawaiian sugar Second group as contract workers in Hawaiian sugar

cane plantationscane plantations• Third group after World War II included veterans and Third group after World War II included veterans and

wives of US soldierswives of US soldiers• Newest immigrants arrived under 1965 Immigration Newest immigrants arrived under 1965 Immigration

Act and included many professionals (physicians and Act and included many professionals (physicians and nurses)nurses)

– American born Filipinos tend American born Filipinos tend to be educationally and to be educationally and economically disadvantaged in economically disadvantaged in comparison to new arrivalscomparison to new arrivals

– Lack significant ethnic Lack significant ethnic organizations-function of organizations-function of • Strong loyalty to family and churchStrong loyalty to family and church• Diversity among Filipinos make Diversity among Filipinos make

forming ties problematicforming ties problematic• Organizations are club like or fraternal Organizations are club like or fraternal

and largely invisibleand largely invisible• Show signs of seeking involvement in Show signs of seeking involvement in

broader communitybroader community

• Southeast Asian AmericansSoutheast Asian Americans– Came largely from Vietnam, Cambodia, LaosCame largely from Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos– Many arrived as political refugees after the Many arrived as political refugees after the

Communist take over in their respective Communist take over in their respective countriescountries

– Many experienced adjustment problems Many experienced adjustment problems culturally, and economicallyculturally, and economically

– Crime among this ethnic group has two ugly Crime among this ethnic group has two ugly aspectsaspects• Reprisals for the warReprisals for the war• Emergence of gangs as the young seek support of Emergence of gangs as the young seek support of

close-knit groupsclose-knit groups

– 1995 US initiated normal diplomatic relations 1995 US initiated normal diplomatic relations with Vietnamwith Vietnam• More movement between the nationsMore movement between the nations

• Case Study: A Hmong CommunityCase Study: A Hmong Community– Sizable population in Wausau, WisconsinSizable population in Wausau, Wisconsin– Come from rural areas of Laos and VietnamCome from rural areas of Laos and Vietnam

• Recruited to work for the CIA during the warRecruited to work for the CIA during the war• Life difficult after US pulled out, many immigrated Life difficult after US pulled out, many immigrated

because US policy open to their residencybecause US policy open to their residency

– Faced major issues of assimilation especially Faced major issues of assimilation especially in language and educationin language and education

– Conflict over contemporary US policiesConflict over contemporary US policies• Recruited to gather information about communists Recruited to gather information about communists

during the warduring the war• Continued disputes over whether US may lift trade Continued disputes over whether US may lift trade

barriers with communist-rum government of Laosbarriers with communist-rum government of Laos

• Korean AmericansKorean Americans– Community is result of three waves of Community is result of three waves of

immigrationimmigration• First group of 7,000 immigrants came between 1903 First group of 7,000 immigrants came between 1903

and 1910 and settled and worked as laborers in and 1910 and settled and worked as laborers in HawaiiHawaii

• Second group of 14,000 came after the Korean War Second group of 14,000 came after the Korean War from 1951-1964from 1951-1964

• Third group and largest group came under the 1965 Third group and largest group came under the 1965 Immigration ActImmigration Act

– Face cultural and economic adjustment Face cultural and economic adjustment problemsproblems• Stress, loneliness, alcoholism, family strife, and Stress, loneliness, alcoholism, family strife, and

mental disordersmental disorders

– IlchomoseIlchomose• ““1.5 generation” – Korean immigrants that 1.5 generation” – Korean immigrants that

accompanied parents to US when young and now accompanied parents to US when young and now occupy middle marginal positions between Korean occupy middle marginal positions between Korean and US cultureand US culture

– Church is the most visible and important Church is the most visible and important organization outside of the familyorganization outside of the family• Provides a sense of communityProvides a sense of community• In the early 1990s, nationwide attention was given In the early 1990s, nationwide attention was given

to the friction between Korean Americans and to the friction between Korean Americans and other subordinate groups, primarily African other subordinate groups, primarily African Americans, but also HispanicsAmericans, but also Hispanics

– 60% of US born Korean and half of the women 60% of US born Korean and half of the women born abroad are in the labor forceborn abroad are in the labor force• Significant because of established, well-defined Significant because of established, well-defined

family roles that allow women to be homemakers family roles that allow women to be homemakers and mothersand mothers

– Kye (pronounced “kay”)Kye (pronounced “kay”)• Special form of development capital used to Special form of development capital used to

subsidize businesses and is not protected by laws subsidize businesses and is not protected by laws or insuranceor insurance

– Conflict with other minority groups gained Conflict with other minority groups gained national attention during 1992 South LA riotsnational attention during 1992 South LA riots

• Hawaii and its PeopleHawaii and its People– Effect of White arrival on the Hawaiians was Effect of White arrival on the Hawaiians was

disastrousdisastrous• Civil war and disease reduced number to 30,000 by Civil war and disease reduced number to 30,000 by

1900 and is probably 10,000 now1900 and is probably 10,000 now

– 1900 Organic Act1900 Organic Act• Guaranteed racial equality but foreign rule was Guaranteed racial equality but foreign rule was

psychologically devastatingpsychologically devastating

– Japanese and Japanese and Haoles (Wealthy Whites)Haoles (Wealthy Whites) dominate the economydominate the economy• Japanese especially important in education – 58% of Japanese especially important in education – 58% of

teachers and also dominate politics on the islandteachers and also dominate politics on the island

– Hawaii has always been more racially Hawaii has always been more racially harmonious than mainlandharmonious than mainland• Never had segregation, Jim Crow, slavery, or laws Never had segregation, Jim Crow, slavery, or laws

against interracial marriageagainst interracial marriage

– Sovereignty MovementSovereignty Movement• Effort by indigenous people of Hawaii to secure a Effort by indigenous people of Hawaii to secure a

measure of self-government and restoration of their measure of self-government and restoration of their landslands

• Similar to the sovereignty efforts of Native Similar to the sovereignty efforts of Native AmericansAmericans

– Native Hawaiian Government Native Hawaiian Government Reorganization Act or the Akaka BillReorganization Act or the Akaka Bill• Provide people of Hawaiian ancestry more say over Provide people of Hawaiian ancestry more say over

resourcesresources– provide affordable housing, take steps to preserve culture, provide affordable housing, take steps to preserve culture,

and create a means by which they could better express their and create a means by which they could better express their grievancesgrievances

– Hawaii is no way a racial paradiseHawaii is no way a racial paradise• Certain occupations and social classes are dominated Certain occupations and social classes are dominated

by a single racial groupby a single racial group• It is expected that people will not totally resist It is expected that people will not totally resist

prejudice as the island’s isolation is reducedprejudice as the island’s isolation is reduced• Relative to the mainland, race relations Relative to the mainland, race relations

characterized more by harmony than discordcharacterized more by harmony than discord

QUESTIONSQUESTIONS

• How is the model minority image a How is the model minority image a disservice to both Asian Americans disservice to both Asian Americans and other subordinate racial and and other subordinate racial and ethnic groups?ethnic groups?

• In what respects has the mass media In what respects has the mass media image of Asian Americans been both image of Asian Americans been both undifferentiated and negative?undifferentiated and negative?

• How is the model minority image How is the model minority image reinforced by images in the media?reinforced by images in the media?

• How has the tendency of many How has the tendency of many Korean Americans to help each other Korean Americans to help each other been an asset but also been viewed been an asset but also been viewed with suspicion by those outside the with suspicion by those outside the community?community?

• What critical events or legislative What critical events or legislative acts increased each Asian American acts increased each Asian American group’s immigration into the United group’s immigration into the United States?States?

• Keeping in mind that adolescence is Keeping in mind that adolescence is based on culture and values, coming based on culture and values, coming of age is difficult given the of age is difficult given the ambiguities of adolescence in the ambiguities of adolescence in the United States. How is it doubly United States. How is it doubly difficult for the children of difficult for the children of immigrants? How do you think the immigrants? How do you think the immigrants themselves, such as immigrants themselves, such as those from Asia, view this process?those from Asia, view this process?

• American Indians, Hispanics, Asian American Indians, Hispanics, Asian Americans, and Black are all Americans, and Black are all convenient terms to refer to diverse convenient terms to refer to diverse groups of people. Do you see these groups of people. Do you see these broad umbrella terms as being more broad umbrella terms as being more appropriate for one group than for appropriate for one group than for the others? Explain your answer.the others? Explain your answer.

• To what degree do race relations in To what degree do race relations in Hawaii offer both promise and a Hawaii offer both promise and a chilling dose of reality to the future chilling dose of reality to the future of race and ethnicity on the of race and ethnicity on the mainland?mainland?