Experiences of Model Minority Stereotype in Asian American College Students

Background and Purpose: The model minority stereotype creates challenges for Asian American young adults, including the stress of feeling a need to conform to stereotype of excellence and perfection, the reluctance to seek help for mental health or other needs, and risk of being overlooked by potential sources of support when experiencing distress. Model-minority stereotype has permeated all aspects of society including higher education. It provides an illusion to society of “success,” while creating unrealistic standards of achievement for Asian American emerging adults. Given that it is a generalization about all Asians, it perpetuates the idea that Asian Americans are a monolithic group and ignores the vast disparities among the members of the group. This study aimed to understand how model minority stereotypes manifest across different Asian American groups and how the stereotype impacts the lives of our participants.

Methods: We conducted six focus groups (n=25) with participants who identified as Asian American. Each group was homogenous and comprised participants from one Asian American ethnicity (Thai American, Chinese American, Indian American, Bangladeshi American, Pakistani American, and Filipino American). We used an inductive approach to thematic analysis. Line-by-line process coding was used to better understand the processes that are embedded into conceptual concepts (like model minority stereotype) and allows us to search for consequences of action/interaction. Finally, we used code charting to highlight comparisons and contrasts across the six groups.

Results: Three main themes emerged from the data: enforcing the model minority stereotype, internalizing the stereotype, and navigating the mental health impact from being labeled a model minority. Participants discuss how they experience and navigate these processes in detail. Enforcing the model minority stereotype was experienced by the participants in different ways. For example, all the groups had experiences of being compared with others by their families and community. These comparisons often led to feeling overwhelmed by the unrealistic expectations. However, the Filipino American participants reported experiences of being compared to other Asian American ethnicities and being made to feel that they are not Asian “enough.” Internalizing the stereotype was seen through the normalization of high achievement and feeling bad when the participants failed in areas where Asian Americans are “expected” to be excellent. The Chinese American participants discussed how they felt pressure to be more successful than other Asian ethnicities, while other groups felt pressure to be high achievers, specifically in academics. The mental health impact of the model minority stereotype was experienced through feeling guilty over parents’ sacrifices, stress, and anxiety over the pressure to succeed consistently and being asked to stay silent. The Bangladeshi American participants discussed how there were gendered expectations of how they coped, while the Indian American participants talked about feeling burnout.

Conclusions and Implications: The findings of this study underscore the experiences of the model minority stereotype among Asian American young adults. Recognizing the diverse experiences within Asian American communities is crucial for providing targeted support and intervention.