Unmasking the Model Minority Myth: Intergenerational AAPI Voices for Equity, Advocacy, and Future Research

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Wednesday 7:45 am - Gold 1
  In Roundtable Session: Critical Examination of Race, Ethnicity, Class, and Gender Roundtable: Asian American Experiences, Resistance, and Justice

Abstract

The model minority has long shaped perceptions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, fueling bias and perpetuating forms of invisible discrimination across generations. Research highlights elevated rates of anxiety, depression, self-injury, and suicidal ideation among Millenial and Generation Z AAPIs– often exceeding those of their White, Black, and Latinx counterparts (NCES, 2024) – while their needs are often dismissed as “irrelevant and unworthy of attention” (Yip et al., 2021, p. 575). Guided by AsianCrit, this mixed-method, phenomenological study investigates generational differences in lived experiences, attitudes, and perceptions of the model minority myth across diverse AAPI ethnic groups. By unearthing these narratives, the study aims to “unforget” historical constructions of this myth and reimagine pathways toward more equitable and inclusive educational futures.

Authors

• Nirmla Griarte Flores, California State Polytechnic University - Pomona

• Kimmie Tang, Biola University