The Next Top Model Minority

Model minorities, huh? "Whiz kids," eh?

Well...as far as stereotypes go, I suppose it could be worst...

Waaaait... How could anything that's considered a stereotype be good? It's a STEREOTYPE.

Today, in that advertising class I mentioned a long time ago, we finally got into the topic of ethnic representation in advertising. We managed to talk about African Americans and Latinos, but where are the Asian Americans??? EXACTLY. Aparently, there just isn't enough research that talks about Asian American representation in advertising.

Regardless, the effects of stereotyping in the media can definitely be applied to any ethnic group. According to the Cultivation Theory, those who are heavily exposed to media are more likely to have similar views to what is shown in the media. If the images are mostly negative, than people are likely to regard the ethnic group negatively. And if people rarely have any exposure to that particular group, then all they have are those preconceived stereotypes!

So, the advertisements that do exist say that we are the model minorities. Apparently, model minorities are supposed to be good at math, business oriented, technologically savvy, and geared toward success. It's not just advertisements saying it, but television shows and movies as well.

Do you know Dr. Christina Yang from ABC's Grey's Anatomy? (Sandra Oh, love her!)


OR Dr. George Huang from NBC's Law and Order: Special Victim's Unit?


Again, not so bad as far as stereotypes go, but that sounds like a lot of pressure. Actually, that just sounds down right stressful trying to live up to such an image. I suppose it's okay to think of someone as the model minority when they actually fit the profile, but I don't support making any generalizations because very rarely do people fit every single one of those characteristics (don't ask me to do a calculus problem..I'm a COMM major! jk jk).

Yet, if advertisements keep portraying Asian Americans as the model minority, then that will just perpetuate the stereotype even further in society. People will begin or continue to regard Asian Americans in that way. That pressure can do a lot of harm to our relationship with other ethnic groups. By presenting us as the "model," does that mean we are what other ethnic groups should aspire to be like? They can use us an example to say that "if Asian Americans can make it in mainstream society, than why can't you"? Not at all! By focusing on our successes, it does nothing to highlight the enormous amount of successes achieved by other minority groups.

And what about identity formation? What if the images drive 10 year old Asian American kids to take up extra calculus classes on a Saturday, join chess tournaments, take up the piano or the violin (yes, of course I am stereotyping!)...well, power to them, until they suffer from over-work and depression because they feel that they can't quite live up to the perfect image formulated of them.
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Here's an ad for Amp'd Mobile, a telecommunications service. See?! The worker breaks his composure while he's by himself but then reverts back to the reserved businessman when a co-worker joins him in the bathroom. What a good model minority.

Why can't people just be themselves, instead of trying to be what others think they should be?