USCCIRCLE: Status
How has class or immigration status helped or hurt you?
I think looking Asian has only caused me to be stereotyped once (quite recently, only in LA when I came to USC). Probably because I live in 90% Asian town, so everyone is Asian, can't really stereotype by that haha. But yeah, in downtown LA on the bus, one (quite creepy) passenger kept making conversation with me, and asked me where I was from. Honestly I was quite surprised to get that question, but at that point I also was really thankful because I wanted to throw him off my trail. Haha... It's a funny memory to look back on now, but it was quite creepy. First experience with a stranger like that. So, I told him my name was Julie, from Shanghai, China only visiting. LOL YEAH one of the few times being stereotyped as a foreigner that is helpful, I guess. Awkward.
Also, I think there are pros and cons to being in the model minority. I think it's helpful to have the mindset: you're Asian, you're smart. It helps you think that you CAN do it, moreso than if you were told that you were dumb. You have to believe that you are. I just remember the study done on that one third grade class where the feeling of superiority allowed the superior ones do do better, but when the situation was reversed, the formerly superior ones degressed. And the formerly inferior ones began to do better once they were they believed they were the superior ones.
It's interesting how helpful some things can be if you look at the positives... I haven't experienced any harmful effects yet. But maybe harmful when I'm expected to be fluent in the language? I'm not. Haha.