The truth about Asian Americans success (it’s not what you think)
The truth about Asian Americans success (it’s not what you think)
- August 4, 2015
- Sociologist Jennifer Lee breaks it down in CNN op-ed Aug 4
Asian Americans are the highest-income, best-educated and fastest-growing racial group
in the country. But not for the reasons you think. For too long, conservative pundits
and the news media have pointed to Asian Americans as the "model minority." They cite
the Ivy League admissions and educational success of many children of blue-collar
Asian immigrant workers as evidence of a superior culture -- one of hard work and
strong families -- that puts Asian Americans on a sure path to success.
But it isn't Asian "culture" or any other attribute of ethnicity that is responsible
for this success. Instead, it's a unique form of privilege that is grounded in the
socioeconomic origins of some -- not all -- Asian immigrant groups. Understanding
this privilege offers insights into how we can help children from all backgrounds
succeed.
In our new book, The Asian American Achievement Paradox -- based on a survey and 140
in-depth interviews of the adult children of Chinese, Vietnamese and Mexican immigrants
in Los Angeles -- fellow sociologist Min Zhou and I explain what actually fuels the
achievements of some Asian American groups: U.S. immigration law, which favors highly
educated, highly skilled immigrant applicants from Asian countries.
Read more from Jennifer Lee, courtesy of CNN: http://edition.cnn.com/2015/08/03/opinions/lee-immigration-ethnic-capital/index.html.
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