Week 3: Kyrene Giezl Gutierrez - A01

As I was reading Manee Moua’s Hmong Studies Journal, titled, “Navigating Graduate Education as a First-generation, Hmong American Woman: An Autoethnography,” I couldn’t help but think about how just like Hmong Americans, there is a lack of research done in the Filipino-American community. However, what is the reason? Why is there such a lack of research in the first place? THE MODEL MINORITY MYTH. The model minority myth or stereotype is one that is most common within the Asian American community. It implies that all Asian Americans are academically and financially successful due to their hard work and determination. Moua (2018) states that not all fit the mold, creating a negative experience for “those who cannot meet the expectations of the model minority, which adds unrealistic expectations for those who cannot perform successfully” (p. 3). Although this myth has been continuously debunked by many scholars, the effects of the stereotype still remain today through the underrepresentation of many Southeast Asian groups in research. The lack of research results in a lack of support and resources for groups, like Filipino and Hmong Americans. Being a Filipina-American, I didn’t start reading books and articles about my people until I attended community college. For years, I thought that the internal conflict within myself was something that was just me, and not the years of generational trauma from the hundreds of years of colonization by both Spain and America. I remember sitting in on one of my former professor’s, Liza Erpelo’s English class. Her class had to research one of the issues Filipino-Americans face. As they were presenting their findings and their resources, I realized the number of academic journals, scholarly articles, books, and in general research, addressing specific Filipino-American issues were so limited. Knowing the lack of research done on Filipino-Americans, many of my former professors, who have turned into mentors, have pushed me to go enter into the UC system and do research within my people. Although I have not done just that YET, I know I will get there.

Source: E.J.R David

Question: How can we better serve the Asian American communities who are often overlooked due to the Model Minority Myth? Also, in what ways can we advocate for them, so that their stories are told, and they are given the resources and support they need?

Resources

Moua, M. (2018). Navigating Graduate Education as a First-generation, Hmong American Woman: An Autoethnography. Hmong Studies Journal, Volume 25. Retrieved from: http://hmongstudies.org/MouaHSJ19.pdf

David, E. (2016, April 6). Forgotten Asian Americans [Digital image]. Retrieved January 16, 2019, from https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/unseen-and-unheard/201604/why-are-filipino-americans-still-forgotten-and-invisible