Model Minority Stereotype: A Disservice To Both Asian Americans And Other Minority Groups In The U.s.

Since the 1960s, the modem popular press in the U.S. has portrayed Asian Americans as a "model minority" whose phenomenal academic and professional achievements prove that they have assimilated into white middle-class society. This model minority myth has even been interpreted as the evidence of the triumph of meritocracy and equality in American society, thus obscuring the real difficulties and problems faced by Asian Americans and other ethnic minorities in the U.S. as well.Extensively based upon Census 2000 statistics from U.S Census Bureau, this paper gives an in-depth analysis of the educational and socioeconomic success achieved by Asian Americans, and tries to find out that the"model minority"stereotype of Asian Americans has not only inappropriately lumped all Asian Americans into one success ethnicity, thus ignoring the distinct diversity among different Asian sub-ethnic groups, but also exaggerated the educational and socioeconomic achievements of Asian Americans.Based on the analysis above, the model minority stereotype of Asian Americans has in fact turned into a disservice to both Asian Americans and other minorities in the U.S. It obscures the persistent discrimination against Asian Americans, poses more psychological pressure to Asian American young adults, denies Asian Americans the government's attention and assistance they need and deserve, fosters divisions among Asian and other minority groups, and triggers the new"Yellow Peril"hysteria. Meanwhile, it also diverts the public attention from the social injustice against other minority groups, and undermines the legitimacy of the affirmative action programs for them.