The Model Minority. The Tiger mom. The academic driving force of oppressed ethnic students. Asian American students in particular revolve around the idea of the Model Minority student. The type of student that strive in all courses, wanting to exceed the expectations of their peers, professors, and parents. Their guidance and motivation influenced by their overbearing mothers and fathers. Of course the “overbearing” title does not pinpoint every Asian American parent, however, it does ascertains against the more traditional and cultural families. The outcome of theses despotic elements generate more Asian American students into suicidal and depressed states rather than meeting their parents aspirations.
For years, the term “Model Minority” has been a constant web, unraveling invisibly around Asian American students. The definition first sparking during the Civil Rights movement in the 1960s. The idea of the “Model Minority” was to influence other ethnic minorities to become similar to the more quieter, and more subjective group. The Japanese Americans was the example during the rise of the “Model Minority”. Westerners viewed the Japanese Americans as over-achieving families, whom all other minorities should look up to. In addition to Japaneses American families, the rising forces of other Asian ethnic groups (Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese) began to resemble the Model Minority Myth and its persona. Over time, the term has transverse into multiple meanings, is being the Model Minority normal? What is normal to be exact?
As we venture more outside the entangling web of the Model Minority, the “Tiger Mom” becomes an expression of the Asian American household. In “The Parent Trip”, by Gwenda Bond, Bond explains how, “Mothers remain the core audience of parenting tomes, and most titles reflect the desire to appeal to today's busy mom-surrounded with so much heated, and often conflicting, rhetoric--by using a more measured approach.” In all races and cultures, the general head of the house would be presumably the father, or the man of the house. The reason being is the because he would be the breadwinner and supplier of the house. But to most surprise, mothers are the essential foundation of the household. The authority and laws of the typical Asian American household generally belongs to the women of the house, regardless of the mens entitlement. The other type of household is the Asian household, where it is more custom to be cultured and traditional. Thus where the Tiger mom flourishes.
In 2011, Amy Chua, author of Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother, published an article on “Why Chinese Mothers are Superior”, she demonstrates her views and the viewpoints of other Chinese immigrant mothers on how they raise their children. By limiting their child at an early age of non-educational leisures and ensuing in their minds “Education is key to success”, it develops an eradicate pressure amongst the growing minds. Chua also explains the difference between a western mother and an eastern mother. “They don’t come close to Chinese mothers”. Chinese mothers, Asian mothers, Eastern mothers alike, Chua explains that they are in fact blunt. They have the ability to confront their children in manners of verbal abuse. Whereas western mothers must “tiptoe” around the obtuse words. In China, Chua describes the practice of discipline and authority, and how it generates to a household. Through the authority of the Tiger mom overall, it has caused the production of the Model Minority Myth. Complimenting the Myth and entailing Asian American students in schools and against their peers.
Through the inflictions and the harsh reality of the Tiger mom, Asian American students are highest in suicidal rates. The build up pressure commemorates towards the lives of Asian American students and inside their homes. Resulting to the demolishment of their Tiger mothers and fathers aspirations.
As always, Thank you for reading!
-Diana Dinh
For years, the term “Model Minority” has been a constant web, unraveling invisibly around Asian American students. The definition first sparking during the Civil Rights movement in the 1960s. The idea of the “Model Minority” was to influence other ethnic minorities to become similar to the more quieter, and more subjective group. The Japanese Americans was the example during the rise of the “Model Minority”. Westerners viewed the Japanese Americans as over-achieving families, whom all other minorities should look up to. In addition to Japaneses American families, the rising forces of other Asian ethnic groups (Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese) began to resemble the Model Minority Myth and its persona. Over time, the term has transverse into multiple meanings, is being the Model Minority normal? What is normal to be exact?
As we venture more outside the entangling web of the Model Minority, the “Tiger Mom” becomes an expression of the Asian American household. In “The Parent Trip”, by Gwenda Bond, Bond explains how, “Mothers remain the core audience of parenting tomes, and most titles reflect the desire to appeal to today's busy mom-surrounded with so much heated, and often conflicting, rhetoric--by using a more measured approach.” In all races and cultures, the general head of the house would be presumably the father, or the man of the house. The reason being is the because he would be the breadwinner and supplier of the house. But to most surprise, mothers are the essential foundation of the household. The authority and laws of the typical Asian American household generally belongs to the women of the house, regardless of the mens entitlement. The other type of household is the Asian household, where it is more custom to be cultured and traditional. Thus where the Tiger mom flourishes.
In 2011, Amy Chua, author of Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother, published an article on “Why Chinese Mothers are Superior”, she demonstrates her views and the viewpoints of other Chinese immigrant mothers on how they raise their children. By limiting their child at an early age of non-educational leisures and ensuing in their minds “Education is key to success”, it develops an eradicate pressure amongst the growing minds. Chua also explains the difference between a western mother and an eastern mother. “They don’t come close to Chinese mothers”. Chinese mothers, Asian mothers, Eastern mothers alike, Chua explains that they are in fact blunt. They have the ability to confront their children in manners of verbal abuse. Whereas western mothers must “tiptoe” around the obtuse words. In China, Chua describes the practice of discipline and authority, and how it generates to a household. Through the authority of the Tiger mom overall, it has caused the production of the Model Minority Myth. Complimenting the Myth and entailing Asian American students in schools and against their peers.
Through the inflictions and the harsh reality of the Tiger mom, Asian American students are highest in suicidal rates. The build up pressure commemorates towards the lives of Asian American students and inside their homes. Resulting to the demolishment of their Tiger mothers and fathers aspirations.
As always, Thank you for reading!
-Diana Dinh