The studious Asian friend, the rich Asian, the “good immigrant” – all tropes Asian Americans introduced in the media as a way to drive a wedge between minority groups.
The controversial term “model minority” refers to all minorities, but it is targeted, both politically and socially, to describe Asians. Through this erroneous conception, Asians are perceived as studious and successful, especially in contrast to other minority groups. The United States has been prioritizing top-earning Asians into the country as immigrants for a long period of time, therefore this created a standard for Asians in their roles in the American society. Seemingly positive, the model minority myth is actually extremely detrimental. From creating division within people of color to making Asians without wealth and success feel inferior, this myth is essentially created to drive a wedge between different disadvantaged groups.
As seen in popular media, since the introduction of the model minority myth, many harmful stereotypical tropes of Asian characters have been introduced. One of the most popular sayings is the studious Asian friend. Introduced as ethnic side character types, these characters usually have no real development of their own and only exist to expand the main characters’ storyline. A prime example of this trope is Kevin Tran from Supernatural. First seen in his bedroom practicing cello, the audience sees walls filled with awards and trophies. Then, when Kevin meets the two main characters, his first couple of lines are “I’m Kevin Tran. I’m in advanced placement.” The idea that all Asians have high GPAs, good with math, then perpetuates the idea that they are also successful and wealthy.
This idea is also contributed to by the rich Asians trope. Best seen in Crazy Rich Asians and Bling Empire, it is amazing to see most or all Asian casts as well as Asians as the main protagonist. However, the issue with this misrepresentation is the growing idea that all Asians are wealthy or successful and thus do not face the same discrimination other minority groups do. Even though Asian Americans only make up 2.6% of Fortune 500 leaders, despite possessing, on average, higher levels of education. Pew Research Center shows that Asians are also currently the most economically divided racial group in the United States. Additionally, even though American media has begun to portray more working-class Asian Americans, most of these characters only exist to perpetuate the ideas of the “good immigrant”.
Often portrayed as good, submissive, and well-behaved, working-class Asian characters often “pull themselves up by their bootstraps” and earn their success. However, the phrase “pull yourself up by your bootstraps” is controversial in and of itself. Most often exclaimed by conservatives and republicans when challenged by the systemic issues of poverty, this idiom expresses the ideology that we live in a meritocracy: an endless void of systemic oppression. The idea of meritocracy is founded on the assumption that everyone is on an even playing field or that equity can be achieved once one becomes independent. However, racial and gender gaps exist, and the discrepancy in quality and access to higher education makes knowledge and opportunity limited to those in poverty. Many Asians can not simply “pull themselves up by their bootstraps\’\’ and become successful, wealthy, and submissive. As seen in “Racial, gender wage gaps persist in the U.S. despite some progress” by Pew Research Center, “Asian women earn… 87 cents per dollar earned by a white man.” Consequently, using Asians to perpetuate the ideal working-class minority only furthers the discrimination against the working class and minorities. In the end, spouting inflammatory idioms and perpetuating unrealistic standards aids no one except the white men in power.
Altogether, the model minority myth has persisted its way onto America’s favorite forms of media and we as active members of society need to recognize these stereotypes. Shown by the studious side character, submissive immigrant, and the stereotypical rich Asian tropes, the “model minority” is seen through rose-colored looking glasses and never as who we actually are. Therefore, to shatter these stereotypes and to stop perpetuating the model minority myth, American media must do better in creating Asian representations.