In the Pursuit of Truth: Interrogating Consequential Educational Research and the Model Minority Myth

• In Event: In the Pursuit of Truth: Interrogating Consequential Educational Research and the Model Minority Myth

Abstract

Asian, Pacific Islander, and Desi Americans (APIDA) have been proclaimed to be “the model minority” in the United States since the 1960s (Wong & Halgin, 2011). A model minority is defined as a demographic group who are perceived to achieve a higher degree of socioeconomic success, measured by their income, education level, low criminality, and high family/marital stability. However, Taylor and Stern (2013) argued that while the term can seem complimentary, it still creates a stereotype, especially in television advertising where Asian Americans are rarely seen in non-stereotypical roles.

APIDA consists of 20+ groups such as East Indian, Thai, and the Marshall Islands, to name a few. While these groups are vastly different from one another, in the US, we group them as the same. In fact, the vast majority of Asians do not attend the elite schools such as Harvard; rather, they attend community colleges and state schools and struggle with money. Yet Harvard has only chosen to reduce the number of Asian students (25.5%) on campus, not Caucasian students (44%), according to their demographics for the class of 2023. We also have a silent epidemic since many Asians, especially young girls, commit suicide at the highest rate. In fact, the American Psychological Association (2007) stated that an American born Asian American woman would have a higher rate of suicidal thoughts in her lifetime (15.9%) than that of the general US population (13.5%). There is also a strong connection between the idea of the model minority and white supremacy. By calling one minority group a “model,” we are automatically stating that all others are not and thus create a wedge between minorities.

This session delves into the myth behind the model minority and how it perpetuates white supremacy in our country and on our campuses. We will also discuss ways to support our APIDA students and colleagues, and how to stop buying into this myth that simply pits minorities against other minorities.

This poster presentation will also allow us to better understand how white supremacy and the model minority myth are intertwined. We will be able to see how the model minority myth impacts ourselves as well as those around us, especially our APIDA and other minority students and peers. We will also learn how to fight white supremacy and bring awareness to the model minority myth.

Admissions Statistics. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://college.harvard.edu/admissions/admissions-statistics

Suicide Among Asian Americans. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.apa.org/pi/oema/resources/ethnicity-health/asian-american/suicide

Taylor, C. R., & Stern, B. B. (n.d.). Asian-Americans: Television Advertising and the "Model Minority" Stereotype. Retrieved from https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00913367.1997.10673522

Wong, F., & Halgin, R. (2011, December 23). The "Model Minority": Bane or Blessing for Asian Americans? Retrieved from https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/j.2161-1912.2006.tb00025.x

Author

• Paris Ryan, San Diego Community College District
  Presenting Author