The Tao of Self-Confidence

The dominant culture expects Asian Americans to be “model” minorities, which can harm their mental health.

People frequently describe Asian Americans as “model” minorities – members of a minority group that has succeeded in the United States. Over 24 million Asian Americans live in America. Proportionally, Asian people should occupy 20% of organizational leadership positions. In reality, however, organizations often appoint a single Asian person to an executive role to project an image of diversity.

The “model minority” label can prove dehumanizing; pressure to live up to peers’ high standards can make Asian American women feel like failures when they don’t meet unrealistic expectations. Asian women often internalize model minority expectations of self-sufficiency and high performance. Such expectations often make Asian women less likely to ask for help. 

The term “model minority” has oppressive roots. Sociologist William Petersen coined the term in 1966, to describe how non-Asian Americans should laud Japanese Americans’ assimilation into Western culture. Many Japanese Americans regarded this as...