Week 3 - Linnea Patterson A02

Linnea Patterson
16 April 2017
Section 2 

Week 3 - Model Minority, Tiger Mom, Affirmative Action, and Newer Debates in Higher Education

"Beyond Tiger Mom Anxiety: Ethnic, Gender and Generational Differences in Asian American College Access and Choices" by OiYan Poon and Ajani Byrd serves to debunk common stereotypes that exist about Asian-Americans in the college decision process. Contrary to popular belief, Asian-Americans do not all attend prestigious Ivy-League schools, rather, about half attend community college (Poon and Byrd 2013). The paper emphasizes that the reason Asian-American students have a high "aggregate achievement status" in school is because it is a common belief in these communities that education will allow mobility in a world with so many inequalities and disadvantages.

 I thought it was interesting that in the studies' findings, they discovered that first-generation college students looked to their high school college counselors for advice more than their parents. 42% of Asian-American college students are first-generation students, so this influence is key (Poon and Byrd 2013). Because many of their parents never had the experience of applying to college, they needed another adult figure to guide them on their journey, which the counselor took the role of. Rather than a "Tiger Mom" being the motivator and influencer over this process, it's more like a tiger clan! Many people are involved in this process. I also looked to my college counselor often in the college application process, because although my parents applied to college, the process and standards had changed immensely in the span of 30 years.

Also interestingly, the study reported that women more than men named others besides themselves, such as family, teachers, and friends, as influencers on their college admission decision, whereas men often named themselves as central to the decision-making process. This could be due to the ways women more than men are pressured to be family-oriented in our society, whereas men are allowed to be mavericks and more independent regarding their future. In Asian communities, are women seen as the family members that have the duty to support the family more than the men, or is the responsibility equal? This might be indicative of this finding of the study.

This study and paper debunks the "Tiger Mom" myth that supposedly allows Asian-Americans to dominate the elite higher-education realm; the reality is much more complex. It also explains that the concept of being a "model minority" has more to do with being able to navigate in a society riddled with injustices rather than simply overachieving for the sake of it. Included is an interview with the infamous "Tiger Mom" who debunks myths about the "model minority" stereotype as well as why Asian-Americans succeed in college.

http://www.cnn.com/2015/08/03/opinions/lee-immigration-ethnic-capital/

Works Cited 

Lee, J. (2015, August 04). The secret to Asian Americans' success. Retrieved April 16, 2017, from http://www.cnn.com/2015/08/03/opinions/lee-immigration-ethnic-capital/

Poon, O., & Byrd, A. (2013). Beyond Tiger Mom Anxiety: Ethnic, Gender and Generational Differences in Asian American College Access and Choices. Journal of College Admission. 23-31.