Asian Americans



Asian Americans Lecture Outline

Group Discussion issues to consider:

1. Asian American Diversity (Schaefer, Ch. 12) What challenges does this pose for Asian American panethnicity? How might it develop & be advantageous? What is the role of multiple generations in US? (Schaefer Ch. 12) How Chan (rdg. 17 in H&A) feel about Asian American identity vs. country of origin ID; how does she struggle & resolve it?

2. “Model Minority” Image (what is it & problems with it) (Schaefer Ch. 12)

3. Prejudice and violence (& other discrimination) experienced

& Inappropriate Portrayals of Asian Americans in Media (Schaefer Ch. 12)

4. Comparison of sub-groups (differences & similarities, & history in US):(Schaefer, Chs. 12 & 13)

Note: Importance of post 1965 Immigration due to immg. law changes

➢ Filipino Americans (Ch. 12)

➢ Indian Americans (Ch. 12)

➢ Southeast Asian Americans (Vietnamese, Hmong, Cambodian, Laotian)–refugees, “gook syndrome” (Ch. 12)

➢ Koreans -- “Kye” pool money / capital… Small Businesses… (Ch. 12)

➢ Hawaiians – Sovereignty movement & ethnic diversity (Ch. 12)

➢ Chinese Americans (Hist. in US—1882 exclusion Act, economic status, Chinatowns organization & problems, cultural capital vs. social capital in immigrants areas) (Ch. 13)

➢ Japanese Americans (Hist. in US, Alien Land Act, WWII internment, Econ. & Ed. Status) (Ch. 13)

“Middleman Minority” concept – esp. for Korean Americans -- e.g., tensions with other subordinate groups. (Ch. 12)

Ethnic Enclave concept—esp. for Chinese Americans (Ch. 13)

5. Prejudice & Discrimination Today—e.g., what sort of ethnic slurs and stereotypes in media, in schools, etc.? (Schaefer Chs. 12 & 13)

Lecture & Key Group Discussion Points:

Socio-Economic Status data (SES) for Asian Americans and key subgroups, compared to US averages and US whites & other US minority groups.

Note patterns in data (not exact #’s) –some of similarities and differences between main groups (Indian, Chinese, Filipino, Korean, Japanese, Pacific Islanders, Vietnamese & other SE Asians (Cambodians and Laotians & Hmong) (Schaefer Chs. 12 & 13, & lecture)

Asian Indians as new prominent, large group (& ed. levels) (Schaefer Ch. 12) – note: South Asians quite different from East Asians culturally(Diversity of Asian American)

Tremendous diversity within Asian American category & relative size of 5 main subgroups

Vs. Panethnicity & difficulties and challenges of it for this group (Schaefer, ch. 12, Chan rdg. 17 in H&A)

Key role played by immigration (% of Asian Americans that are immigrants)

US Immigration policy – History (including Chinese Exclusion Act and similar restrictions on Japanese immigration see Schaefer Ch. 13)

& 1965 US Immigration law changes that opened up door to Asian Immigration (Key criteria in law).

Key role of US foreign policy (wars and colonization/ conquest) in leading many of those groups to come to US – esp. Vietnamese & SE Asians, Koreans, and Filipinos…

Human Capital (very related to SES background) –definition & how it varies among different Asian American sub-groups, and how impacts Asian immigrant in adjustment to US (lecture only).

Vs. Cultural Capital (Schaefer Ch. 13 & lecture) – definition and how much immigrants have about US culture, typically.

Model Minority (Schaefer, ch, 12)

What is the stereotype & some data to support it (econ. & ed. status).

Positive aspect to it…

But lots of negative aspects to this seemingly positive stereotype:

Esp. re: qualifications & ed. & pay (relatively underpaid) & glass ceiling, hours worked, & reward for that, masks SES diversity within Asian Americans (not all succeeding, some need help), example to use against other minority groups (as counter-example to them to “blame the victim”)

& Overlooks problems within Asian American communities (esp. in education). I showed data from California on Ed probs. For Asian Americans. Also, there is Econ. Success in the larger group, but poverty also… (Asian Americans economically polarized somewhat)

& When one doesn’t fit in some way (SES/Class in Chan’s case—Rdg. 17 in H&A), causes difficulties and insecurities

Media misrepresentations & Stereotypes of Asian Americans – some of key types and examples (Schaefer ch. 12)

& some of continuing Prejudice & Discrimination Today (Schaefer Ch. 13).

Chinatowns as enclaves– helpful & have positive aspects, but significant social problems also… (Schaefer, ch, 13, Chan rdg. 17 in H&A)

WWII Internment of Japanese – losses and later apology & payment, US Army unit of Japanese Americans, etc. (Schaefer, ch, 13)

Political involvement—Asian American involvement and representation patterns, reasons for this (country of origin traditions), as well as an exception: case of Indian Americans. (Schaefer Ch. 12 and some lecture only material)

Religion—Diversity in the level of importance of religious institutions among various Asian American sub-groups – patterns (or which groups is it important and which less so). Again, this is related to country of origin traditions. Key case on importance of relation is Korean Americans. (Schaefer Ch. 12 and some lecture only material)

Teen suicide rate for Asian Americans and how this may shown a down side to “model minority” stereotype (Schaefer Ch. 12)

Not discussed, or not enough, but be sure to know basics about:

“Middleman Minority” -- E.g. Korean Americans & “Kye” financing (Schaefer, Ch. 12)

& tensions of this position, esp. with other minority groups,

Some basic info. on Filipinos, Vietnamese (&SE Asians), & Korean Americans , because we mentioned them very little in class (history of coming to US, key characteristics and experiences in US.) (Schaefer, Ch. 12)

Yellow Peril” and gook syndrome” (Schaefer Ch. 12)

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