Model Minority: Mental Health Issues in Asian-American Communities

By CINDY ZHU

“You do realize that the Chinese have math brains, don’t you?” 

“Woah, you must be super intelligent because you’re Asian.” 

To the general public’s disappointment, I am neither talented in STEM courses nor the cleverest girl in my grade. The expectation for Asian-Americans to achieve a higher degree of academic and socioeconomic success than their non-Asian peers is prevalent in North American society. The so-described ‘Model Minority Myth’ not only creates an illusion of Asian success in North American society and perpetuates existing xenophobia, but also worsens mental health issues in Asian-American communities by normalizing the problematic practice of Tiger Parenting. 

The term “model minority” first emerged in the 1960s. At the time, Chinese and Japanese Americans were perceived as a “peaceful” group because they did not explicitly demand equal representation and opportunities in North American society—following values important in Confucian and Meiji cultures such as patience and discipline, they believed that equal representation would be more effectively achieved through academic success. These behaviours resulted in widespread adherence from the Caucasian majority to the Model Minority Myth, by which Asian-Americans are often praised for academic and economic success compared to other minorities. As many Asian-American communities believe that academic success will be achieved by outperforming their white peers and eventually result in equality.

The Model Minority Myth negatively impacts the mental health of Asian-Americans as it suggests that their success is a result of their race and not hard-earned abilities. Instead of crediting their hard work or intelligence for their academic achievements, stereotypes such as inborn studiousness are credited instead. Labelling academic achievements as a product of race legitimizes established stereotypes, and emphasizes “Asianness” as the key to why Asian-Americans “outperform” their non-Asian peers. Under such xenophobic alienation, Asian-American communities have a higher risk of developing anxiety due to their fear of being further ostracized from mainstream North American societies. In addition, stereotypical labels encourage one-dimensional characterizations of Asian-Americans as solely able to achieve academic success, often overlooking and suppressing their potential in non-academic fields. 

Bolstered by these superficially “flattering” stereotypes of Asian-Americans being disciplined and diligent, “tiger parenting” has become a common parenting style amongst Asian-American families. Motivated by the intention to gain equal opportunities by academically outperforming Caucasians, many Asian-American parents have adopted a parenting style involving hyper-disciplined regulations. For instance, Amy Chua, the author of the Battle Hymn of Tiger Mother, prohibited her daughters from attending any social events and getting a grade less than A.Tiger parenting further enforces the Model Minority Myth because it emphasizes the stereotypical notion of Asian-Americans’ inborn academic success. Furthermore, tiger parenting negatively affects the mental health of Asian-Americans as they are more likely to experience self-image issues by being overly critical of themselves. Over time, this toxic perfectionist mindset correlates with increased risks of depression, anxiety, or even suicide.

The Model Minority Myth also unintentionally strengthens existing barriers that Asian Americans face in the workforce due to stereotypes and racism. This phenomenon is known as the Bamboo Ceiling. Asian-Americans are less likely to be promoted and obtain high managerial positions in the workforce. According to the statistics reported in 2015, less than 2% of Fortune 500 CEOs are Asian among the 5.6% of the total Asian-American population in North America. Despite promising academic achievements, Asian-Americans are the least likely racial group to be promoted to managerial levels due to the stereotypical perception of being reserved and uncommunicative. 

Stemming from the notion of “Model Minority,” Asian-Americans are assigned with negative stereotypes such as inborn introversion studiousness, which further hamper their pursuits in North American society. It is crucial to build solidarity across Asian-American communities to break through the existing Bamboo Ceiling and resist discriminatory labels, as these negative stereotypes not only further alienate Asian-Americans from North American society but also worsen their mental health. With unity among Asian-American communities, individuals will feel more empowered to speak up for themselves and alter the existing discriminatory perception.