Below are some questions to help guide your discussion on the oppression of Asian-American and Pacific Islander people. Please answer each question below.

1. Identify 3 take-aways from this week’s recorded lecture and explain how you will apply these reminders in social work practice.
2. Describe the model minority myth as overviewed in the video Model Minority Myth. What are the negative consequences of this myth for those who cannot live up to those expectations?
3. What are the consequences of media whitewashing and stereotypes as described in Asian Misrepresentation in Media?
4. Identify 3 takeaways from Anointed. Link them to the centrality of environmental justice in social work?

Asian and
Pacific

Islander
Oppression

Asian Americans•Asian: origins in the
original peoples of the
• East Asia
• (Far East)

•

Southeast Asia

•

South Asia

• (Indian Subcontinent)
• Sometimes refered to

as Desi
•

Central Asia

•

Middle East

East Asia

South Asia
Southeast Asia
Central Asia
Middle East

Pacific Islander

Asian Americans
• 5.6% of US, 2% of OK (2017)
• Comprises the group of greatest

diversity including:
• Japanese
• Vietnamese
• Korean
• Filipino
• Chinese
• Indian

• Historical Policy Vulnerabilities:
• Internment
• Religious bigotry
• School segregation
• Immigration Quotas

Ambassador Nikki Haley

Senator
Tammy Duckworth

Dr. David HoAnn Curry

Jimmy Choo

Apollo
Ohno Mindy Kaling

US Asian Population

Asian Americans
• Tend to group in urban centers

• Allows for availability and accessibility of
services

• Presentation of problems, demeanor and
behavior different from mainstream
• May not be accurately assessed for by helping

professionals
• Must account for collectivist versus

individualist influences

• Ways in which Asian people differ
• Immigration history
• Culture
• Belief systems
• Family structures
• Attitudes about help seeking
• Support systems available to Asian clients
• Degrees of individual and family integration

to the local community

Immigration & Resettlement
• Level of adaptation of immigrants and refugees

differs:
• How recently they came
• The circumstances of leaving home countries
• Differential resettlement processes after entering US

• Unlike European immigrants, Asian immigrants
had to:
• Learn a lifestyle
• Learn a new alphabet
• Learn a new societal orientation
• Learn a foreign language
• Face rampant anti-Asian immigration policy

Chinese
• First influx of Asian immigrants during mid-1800s due

to California gold rush
• Taiping Revolution of 1850: immigrants escaping from

poverty
• Became a threat when the US economy receded

• Lead to violent attacks and expulsion
• Chinese popularized opium smoking

• Blamed for corrupting Americans
• Led to Chinese Exclusion Act in 1882

• Maintained traditional ways of life within urban
enclaves for safety
• Recent immigrants seek family unification and

professional or technical positions

Japanese
• Early 1900’s Meiji Revolution

– Political reform (from Feudal to Democracy)
– Economic reform (from Agrarian economy to

Industrialization)

• As population grew, so did anti-Japanese sentiment:
• Laws limiting immigration
• Restricting land ownership
• Disqualified eligibility for naturalization
• Prohibiting inter-racial marriage
• Community expulsion

• WWII results in Japanese internment
o A mass evacuation and imprisonment for suspicion of

loyalties to Japan
o Loss of business and personal property
o Fostered mutual support in starting over, again

Filipino
• First again immigrants, but exploded in 1900’s
• The Philippines under control of US or Spain

• Under US control Filipino’s have limited rights as
members of US colony

• 1924 Gentleman’s agreement between the U.S.
and Japan
• Stopped the flow of Japanese
• Increased demand for labor (Filipinos)

• 1965 and 1990 immigration waves:
• New immigrants were educated and highly skilled but

underemployed
• Did not have their own ethnic community due to lack

of
• Protection, solidarity, mutual aid and economic supports

Koreans

• Began in early 1900’s
• Immigrated to escape war,

disease, and famine
• Laborers

• Lumber industry

• National Origins Act
• Asian immigrations cease until 1965

• Most recent influx
• New York City

Southeast Asians
• Rapid increase after Fall of Saigon in 1975
• Primary motivators were war and poverty
• Men, women & children
• Refugee resettlement program scattered

throughout US
• Making acculturation and assimilation difficult and

traumatic

• Lack of social supports in the community
• High rates of mental heath problems
• Low rates of access
• Cultural perceptions of mental illness and

treatment

India
• Increased from 1960’s forward due to:
• Removal of national-origin quotas
• Established temporary skilled worker programs
• Employment based visas
• Population density
• Poverty

• Compared to other Asian and immigrant
groups tend to have higher:
• Rates of higher education degrees and advanced

degrees
• Higher incomes
• Rates of Health insurance

Norms, Beliefs, and Cultural Stereotypes
• Model Minority: the ideal minority

immigrant characterized by:
• Upward mobility- high levels of education and

employment
• Avoiding mainstream social confrontations and

conflict
• Few social problems (Delinquency, mental

health, substance use)

• Facts:
• Levels of education and job status vary across

groups
• Former refugees have not recovered from forced

downward shift in occupation and pay
• The gap between the wealthy and poor has

increased

Asian Beliefs in **Very Broad Generalities**

• Remember that there are many differences among

individuals within groups.
• Culture is bound by geography, nationality, history, etc.
• Differences in cultural practices and meanings are to be

expected
• In general there are similar attitudes, values, and behaviors
• Vast religious diversity vs. Judeo-Christian beliefs

• Emphasis on collectivism versus individualism
• Moderation and harmony with people and environment

• Cultural values
• Responsibility to others
• Interdependence
• Restraint
• Moderation
• Group achievement

Asian Beliefs in **Very Broad Generalities**
• Value education

• Education is a family matter
• Educational failure is too

• Different acculturation rates produce family conflict
o Role reversal- Child assuming adult roles
o Peer influence- peers over parents

• Downward social mobility
• Training & skills are not sufficient for American labor market

• Difficulties in public school
• Lack of parental support with homework, placement in a lower grade

than age-appropriate class, perception of peers as mean
• Children perceived as withdrawn rather than polite
• Face negative social attitudes conveyed by teachers, or rejection and

teasing from peers

• Emphasis on reserved emotional expression and
internalization of strong feelings
o Issues (problems) are not discussed outside of family

members
o Maintain peace and harmony among family members
o Self control in expression of emotions and feelings

o Can lead to perception of denial

• Avoidance of shame
o Individual’s socially unacceptable behavior = a family shame
o Rebellion, substance abuse, delinquent behavior, and poor

school achievement = Family failure

Asian Beliefs in **Very Broad Generalities**

Mental Health Problems & Treatment Seeking
• Lifetime prevalence and factors

associated with mental health vary by:
• Gender and ethnic origins
• The third generation reported

highest rates of psychiatric disorders
• Only 1 in 3 access treatment for mental

health or substance use
• Lack of service utilization could be due

to use of herbal preparations for mental
and physical health problems
• Particularly among Chinese