But Where Are You Really From? How Stereotyping Shapes Asian American Behavior

• In Event: Identity and Politics

Abstract

What motivates individuals to identify with their group and act on behalf of the group? Studies have shown that experiences with discrimination can lead individuals to identify more strongly with their racial group and can also lead to increased collective action. Asian Americans, despite coming from diverse backgrounds, are assigned to the same racial category in the United States. This categorization leads out-groups to view and stereotype Asian Americans the same way despite differences in national-origin and culture. These include believes that Asian Americans are the model minority and that Asian Americans are perpetual foreigners. What effect do these experiences with stereotyping (in the form of microaggressions) have on Asian American political behavior? I argue that microaggressions and stereotyping lead Asian Americans to find political commonality in one another because these experiences serve as reminders of social status. I present findings from an original survey of Asian Americans and their experiences with stereotyping, microaggressions, and discrimination. I find that Asian Americans are less likely to report having personally experienced discrimination but have almost universally experienced instances of being stereotyped. In addition, individuals who reported having personal experiences with microaggressions expressed stronger attachment to the group and were more politically engaged.

Author

• Vivien Leung, University of California, Los Angeles