Page 178 - Microaggressions in Everyday Live Race, Gender, and Sexual Orientation

152 racial/ethnic microaggressions and racism

(Sue & Sue, 2008). These facts seem to attest to the validity of their image
of success, and many conclude that Asian Americans are somehow immune
to racism. Words such as “ hardworking, ” “ disciplined, ” “ intelligent, ” and
“ enterprising ” are often used to describe Asian Americans (Morrissey, 1997).
However, a critical analysis of the Asian American success myth reveals
truths that are at odds with these conclusions. The higher median income
does not take into account (1) per family income in instances where Asian
families have more than one wage - earner, (2) a higher incidence of poverty in
many Asian American/Pacific Islander groups than among Whites, and (3)

the huge discrepancy between education and income (e.g., Asian Americans
must attain a higher education to earn the same amount as White coworkers).
Further, statistics mask a bimodal distribution; many may have higher educa-
tion, but there is a huge undereducated group. Measures of mental health,

divorce, and delinquency fail to distinguish between “ official ” and “ actual ”
rates, a discrepancy that may be due to cultural factors such as the disgrace
or shame associated with admitting or seeking outside public service help
(Sue & Sue, 2008).
The success myth also contributes to a belief that unlike other groups of

color, Asian/Pacific Americans have not been exposed to racism, do not suf-
fer from discrimination and, therefore, should not be considered an oppressed
minority group (Sue & Sue, 2008). Such beliefs deny the historical and con-
tinuing racism visited upon Asians in America. Indeed, the history of Asian
Americans is replete with racism and discrimination: denied ownership of land
and citizenship, locked in internment camps, denied voting rights, subjected
to widespread assaults that include hanging, torture, and even enslavement
(Mio, Nagata, Tsai, & Tewari, 2007). The phrases “ not a Chinamen ’ s chance ”
and the “ yellow peril ” refer to perceptions of Asian Americans as unlikely to
succeed and as a threat to Whites. The number of hate crimes against Asian
Americans has risen dramatically (assaults by 11% and aggravated assaults
by 14%), which attests to the continuing overt racism expressed toward them
(Matthee, 1997).
When the general public thinks about Asian Americans, these are some
of the images and stereotypes that come to mind: spies, sneaky, backstab-
bers, disloyal, slanted eyes, stingy, subhuman, model minority, bright,
hardworking, obedient, studious, quiet, good in math and science, wealthy,
passive, lack of leadership skills, poor interpersonally, unassertive, men are
unmasculine/sexually unattractive, women are domestic, exotic, and sexually
pleasing, and poor English skills (Sue, 2003). All of these images are refl ected

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