How the Model Minority Stereotype Affects Asian Americans and Their Performance in School

How does the model minority stereotype affect Asian Americans in regard to their academic performance and why? While examining the average Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) scores by ethnicity and gender the question came up as to why Asian American students scored on average higher in the math section than all other ethnicities including White students. Through readings in Anderson and class discussions a strong correlation between the income of a family, primarily the income of the father, and the child's SAT scores was found, but is there something more behind the academic success of Asian Americans (Anderson, 446; Class Notes, 5-28-04).

American society is caught up in the quest for intelligence and understanding what contributes to academic success. Therefore, it is important to examine why Asian American students are seen as intelligent and model minorities. The term, "model minority" refers to the idea that Asian Americans are successful because of their strong work ethic, family cohesion, and their ability to assimilate to American society (Gotanda, 94). Are these characteristics of Asian Americans cultural, biological or both? In addition, it is important to see the effect of the model minority stereotype on Asian Americans both on a personal level and on an educational institutional level. On a personal level the stereotype could affect a students academic performance and how one view oneself. While on an institutional level, the way a teacher views a student could effect one's performance and the way a school views Asian Americans could effect acceptance into the school and the student's education.