Can stereotypes ever be good? - Sheila Marie Orfano and Densho

Explore the model minority stereotype, and discover how it became a label for Asian Americans and is used to enforce racial hierarchies.

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In 2007, researchers surveyed 180 teachers to understand if they held stereotypes about their students. The most commonly held opinion was that Asian students were significantly more industrious, intelligent, and gentle. This might seem like a good thing, but treating this stereotype as reality can cause a surprising amount of harm. Sheila Marie Orfano and Densho dig into the model minority myth.

Lesson by Sheila Marie Orfano and Densho, directed by Léon Moh-Cah.

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Thank you so much to our patrons for your support! Without you this video would not be possible! Phyllis Dubrow, Ophelia Gibson Best, Paul Schneider, Joichiro Yamada, Henrique Cassús, Lyn-z Schulte, Elaine Fitzpatrick, Karthik Cherala, Clarence E. Harper Jr., Vignan Velivela, Ana Maria, Exal Enrique Cisneros Tuch, Tejas Dc, Khalifa Alhulail, Martin Stephen, Dan Paterniti, Jose Henrique Leopoldo e Silva, Elnathan Joshua Bangayan, Jayant Sahewal, Mandeep Singh, Abhijit Kiran Valluri, Kris Siverhus, Devin Harris, Pavel Zalevskiy, Karen Goepen-Wee, Brad Sullivan, Karen Ho, Filip Dabrowski, Barbara Smalley, Megan Douglas, Tim Leistikow, Ka-Hei Law, Hiroshi Uchiyama, Mark Morris, Misaki Sato, EdoKun, Boytsov Ilya, SookKwan Loong, Bev Millar, Lex Azevedo, Noa Shore, Michael Aquilina, Jason A Saslow, Dawn Jordan, Prasanth Mathialagan, Samuel Doerle, David Rosario, Dominik Kugelmann - they-them, Siamak H, Ryohky Araya, Mayank Kaul and Christophe Dessalles.

[vido]

I like how boxes are used in this video, every interaction with a box is uncomfortable for the people.

[GlaciesYin]

Stereotypes in general assume groups to be monolithic, which then results in the entire group taking "responsibility" when one person does for something that goes wrong or is difficult etc. Stereotypes also get worse when the group is generalised further to larger communities.
Here's to hoping that we can just be ourselves without feeding into narratives of stereotypes, whether or not we conform to or deviate from those expectations.

[bokkun]

the amount of times i've heard "how did you fail your test? you're asian, that's impossible" by my classmates makes me feel like i don't deserve anything i've worked hard for since "it's because i'm asian"

[micahbush]

Let's take a moment to acknowledge that the "model minority" concept doesn't really apply to Asians generally, but to East Asians specifically (Japanese, Koreans, and Chinese). Southeast Asians, Central Asians, Indians, and most people from the Middle East are also Asians, yet they suffer their own challenges and stereotypes.

[datcatcatcat]

"If you do not have a stereotype, the government will assign one to you"

[imachickencake]

I agree, this “positive” stereotype is still a harmful one nonetheless. In my case, I believed (and still sort of do) that everything I’ve accomplished academically/musically is not deserved, and people just expect it anyways, which makes me feel like an imposter.
Justice for people who DO fit the stereotype; I am a ‘stereotypical Asian’ in many ways but I’m still me and don’t want to lose my sense of person by being put in a box.
Cool vid!

[maddieb]

Probably would be pretty interesting to ask waitresses at restaurants about stereotypes and what they think.

[relaxium]

That's precisely the same, when it comes to disability, especially, physical one. Two main 'positive' stereotypes are type A) a kind, meek, naive ball of sunshine, who will be forever at childhood stage of emotional maturity; and type B) a struggling hero, whose only dream is to become able-bodied and who is constantly overcoming various difficulties. A strong-willed person who took themselves and made anew, building all their dreams and goals into reality.
Both are seemingly very positive, but many people just break emotionally under the pressure, because if they are not entirely either of above, they are often deemed basically useless.

[blueberrychocolate]

I hate having the stereotype of being smart. It makes me feel as though I need to base my self-worth on my academic achievements. And if I don’t get perfect scores (which I often don’t) I feel inadequate.

[brileymoreno]

I could watch this style of art/education for hours.

[SteveSilverActor]

It's important to recognize the distinction between cultural stereotypes and cultural differences. I lived in Japan for ten years, and there are significant cultural differences between Japanese and American societal expectations. However, a culture is made up of diverse individuals who may choose not to follow societal norms. Stereotypes, however, tend to exaggerate such cultural characteristics, or even distort them for political purposes, as was mentioned in this video.

I also appreciated the mentioning of the fact that there is no monolithic "Asian" culture. While there are some common cultural characteristics -- mainly coming from the historical influence of China -- there are significant cultural differences. Anyone who has spent time in Korea and Japan can tell you that the respective cultural norms are quite different.

[ShortHax]

To me, there are no “positive” or negative stereotypes. They’re just stereotypes

[PaulAllPro]

TED is a good example of how to make subtitles properly.

[mitdayo]

As an Asian growing up in white neighborhood my friends always thought I should be good at math because of my ethnicity.
They always wanted to compare answers with me whenever they were stuck on a math question.
So I tried hard to be good at math to maintain my 'status' as a math guy by studying more.
It drove me to become an engineering student and eventually an engineer.

I'd say it helped me a lot for my case.

[yuhansun]

I remember once I was about to take an important English exam, for a certificate, I was nervous and a friend just told me:"Don't worry about it, the Asian buff will help you" This made laugh and gave me courage before the exam and turned exquisitely. Although constant exterior expectations, as I would learn later, are truly a burden and crushing for one's mentality.

[dasoyee]

According to a Purdue study, only 27% of the Hmong-American population, an ethnic group of Southeast Asia, have a high school diploma. How can we group all Asians together and say they’re successful, when there are clearly groups that still need help through programs like Affirmative Action? At the very least, don’t lump all Asians together when there are such huge differences between them.

[ryuk]

asians individuals always being described as "intelligent" just puts them into more pressure. ive always had this constant feeling of fear where I just feel like ive not been trying my best when I have been. I was always told that "you're not up to par" "these students are all smart. you've got to fit in". half of these students that they take as examples are also just individuals being pressured to fit in with this stereotype. so no, being constantly termed as the "smart Asian kid" doesn't do good.

[Duvmasta]

A Chinese-American once said “We are human. No more, no less.”

[QuestionEverythingButWHY]

“The single story creates stereotypes, and the problem with stereotypes is not that they are untrue, but that they are incomplete. They make one story become the only story.”
― Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

[KxNOxUTA]

I love this! It plays into the concept of toxic positivity, too. Basically, whenever people cannot fully be themselves, there are problems. Because in either way problems are buried and once they resurface, they're huge. Actually, when repressed for what appears to be "good reasons", once they surface for real, it can be almost too late. Because expectations to endure unhelpful positivity are higher! So people get way way more worn out eventually, before they cave in under the pressure and little strength is left for picking themselves up again.

Glad we're talking about it! It matters. Mental health is as important as physical health! They're very very closely intertwined anyway!